Ireland availed of €13.7m in EU supports for the dairy and livestock sectors to deal with effects of the Russian ban on agri-food exports. It also received a further €11.1m from the solidarity package which included private storage aid.

The European Commission and member states agreed a support package in October 2015 to help farmers most affected by market difficulties due to the Russian ban.

Allocations totalling €420m were made to member states to support the dairy and livestock sectors, with flexibility for member states to decide how to target this support. Of this, Ireland received €13.7m.

Emergency measures

The EU granted €500m of aid to EU producers of fruit and vegetables. According to Commission data, in the case of fruits and vegetables, the last emergency measures were phased out on 30 June 2018.

Although the ban was partially lifted in June 2016 for imports of beef, poultry and vegetables intended for use in baby food manufacturing, the overall ban remains in place until 31 December 2019.

Solidarity

In July 2016, the European Commission agreed a further solidarity package worth €500m, which included provision for a milk production reduction scheme, conditional adjustment aid, and extension of public intervention and aids for private storage schemes. Of this, Ireland received €11.1m.

The figures were revealed in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConologue.

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