Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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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 areas in particular. Brexit depending on the outcome has the potential to have a very significant impact on farmers and on the agri-food 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 fishing sectors.

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 agri-food and fisheries sectors, 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 agri-food 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.

The Commission has adopted a legislative proposal to help prepare for the potential significant impacts that a “no-deal” Brexit would have on Irish fisheries and this is currently before the Council and Parliament.

The proposal is to allow fishermen and operators from EU Members States to receive financial aid under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the temporary cessation of fishing activities. The aim of this is to help off-set some of the impact of a sudden closure of UK waters to EU fishing vessels in a no-deal scenario.

While I welcome this measure as a useful first step I believe that additional measures, including further financing, over and above the EMFF, at EU level will be required.

In that regard, I am continuing to work with the Commission and other concerned Member States to continue to develop EU wide measures to address the very serious potential problems that may arise. It cannot be left to individual Member States to address these problems in isolation.

Ireland is particularly exposed with regard to the potential impacts for our fisheries sector. I will be meeting with Fisheries Commissioner Vella next Monday to explore additional possible mitigation measures.