Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1169. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that all fishers and all segments of the fleet benefit from the Brexit adjustment reserve fund; the method by which these funds are being disbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52317/21]
View answerEU Regulation 2021/1755 of 6th October 2021 established the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The purpose of the BAR is to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and environmental consequences of Brexit in the Member States, regions, communities and economic sectors most adversely affected. Ireland has been provisionally allocated €1.1 billion from the BAR, subject to eligible applications being submitted to the European Commission by 30 September 2024. The BAR may only fund measures that contribute to its objectives and that are implemented by 31st December 2023.
I established a Seafood Sector Task Force in March 2021 to examine the impacts on our fishing sector and coastal communities of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and to make recommendations to me on initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
I received the report of the Task Force on 11th October and it makes recommendations for a broad range of support schemes to assist the seafood sector and coastal communities to mitigate the impacts of the TCA, including temporary and permanent cessation schemes for the fishing sector, liquidity support schemes, capital investment schemes, marketing supports, marine infrastructure renewal and enhanced community led local development through the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups.
Many of the recommended measures are proposed for funding under the BAR, and others for funding under my Department's forthcoming Seafood Development Programme 2021-27. I am urgently examining the Task Force report with a view to quickly implementing a comprehensive response to the impacts of the TCA on our fishing sector and coastal communities. The measures recommended in the report will be examined with particular regard to available funds, eligibility of the recommended measures for funding under the BAR and with regard to State Aid rules and the Public Spending Code.
