Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
76. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that his Department is helping agri-food businesses adapt to the impact of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52656/21]
View answerBrexit has inevitably presented significant challenges for the agri-food sector, although the Trade and Co-operation Agreement reached at the end of 2020 mitigated against some of the potentially worst impacts as it provided for tariff-free trade between the EU and UK to continue. However, as the UK is now outside the EU Single Market and Customs Union, there are additional requirements for Irish businesses trading with the UK.
My Department has, and continues to, work intensively with the sector to ensure that it is ready for these changes.
The preparatory work has included extensive investment in the systems and infrastructure needed to support industry in meeting new import and export requirements, which has ensured the minimum possible disruption to Irish supply chains to date.
My Department continues to collaborate with industry to ensure that businesses are ready for the new UK import controls that will arise in 2022.
The Government also continues to provide a range of financial supports to assist industry in adapting to the impacts of Brexit. Most recently, on 15 October, along with Government colleagues, I launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme, which makes up to €330 million in lending available to eligible businesses in Ireland, including farmers and the seafood sector.
Earlier this year, a €14 million Capital Investment Scheme was made available to support the food processing industry, and the Government has, of course, continued to increase Bord Bia funding in order to assist the industry in pursuing market diversification opportunities.
These funding measures, and the investment in preparations for the changes to the UK-EU trading environment, clearly demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to support the agri-food sector's ambition to continue to grow despite the challenges associated with Brexit.
