Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1142. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to offset the impact of Brexit on farmers in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16765/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on the agri-food sector throughout Ireland, including in counties Cavan and Monaghan.
As the Deputy will be aware, the agri-food sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural Ireland, and of the border region in particular.
The primary means through which the Government is seeking to minimise the impact of Brexit is through the negotiated outcome. In a border context, and in terms of mitigating the impact in counties Monaghan and Cavan, the UK commitment in the Joint EU-UK Report of last December to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland was extremely important. At the Government insistence this commitment is now being translated into legal form in the draft of the Withdrawal Agreement, and we are currently working closely with our EU counterparts and the European Commission Task Force to achieve progress in the actions necessary to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
During my recent visit to London on St Patrick’s week I met with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State Michael Gove and stressed the importance of avoiding a hard border on the island in order to facilitate bilateral trade post Brexit, without undermining the Single Market.
Since the Brexit vote, the Government has introduced a range of measures to help the agri-food sector navigate the short-term impacts. In Budget 2017, I introduced measures to help reduce farm gate business costs, including a €150 million low-cost loan scheme, new agri-taxation measures and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes.
In 2018 Budget I announced a €50m Brexit support package, which will comprise a number of initiatives. Firstly, in cooperation with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have recently announced a new Brexit Loan Scheme aimed at providing affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future, at least 40% of which will be available to food businesses.
I am also considering the development of a separate loan scheme similar to the 2017 low-cost scheme, based on €25m funding from my Department to the Scheme. These measures are aimed at enhancing competitiveness within the sector.
I have also introduced supports for Bord Bia for investment in market insight and market prioritisation initiatives, which are aimed at identifying and developing potential diversification opportunities. I had already increased funding to Bord Bia by €10 million since the Brexit vote, and a further €4.5 million is allocated in Budget 2018. Following on from the successful trade mission to the USA and Canada in February of this year I will, as part of the marketing effort, lead further trade missions in 2018 to promote Irish food and drink in key markets. I will lead a trade mission to China and Hong Kong next month to develop our relationship further, which takes on additional importance now that we have succeeded in opening this market to beef exports from Ireland.
To enhance product diversification, I have also allocated funding to support the development of the new National Food Innovation Hub, which will be located in the Teagasc Moorepark complex.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government remains very focused on supporting farmers and the agri-food industry through the challenges ahead, whether they are based in Cavan, Monaghan or any other part of the country.
