Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
238. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific supports that will be made available to beef farmers in the immediate aftermath of a no-deal Brexit, if such a scenario should arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agrifood sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. Brexit, depending on the outcome, has the potential to have a very significant impact on farmers and on the agrifood sector.
There are on-going discussions with the Commission regarding the difficulties facing Ireland, and the assistance that might be required for its agriculture, food and fishery sectors. The UK is Ireland’s largest export destination for beef exports. In 2018, beef exports to the UK were valued at €1,206m, 49% of the total value of beef exports.
I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agrifood and fisheries sectors, in particular beef, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required in order to deal with these impacts. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a disorderly Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.
Most recently, I held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hogan to discuss the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit on the Irish agrifood and fisheries sectors. We discussed the unique exposure of these sectors to the threat of a disorderly Brexit, and the challenges that it could present. I stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on farmers and processors, including through traditional market supports and exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation, and increased flexibility under State Aid regulations. Commissioner Hogan reiterated the EU’s readiness to respond and support Ireland, and we will remain in contact on these issues as the situation evolves.
