It is over 320 days since the ballots were counted and the UK declared its intention to withdraw from the EU. I can honestly say that Brexit preparation has devoured my work and my thoughts for each and every one of those days. As the opening exchanges of the exit negotiations approach, I think now is a good time to take stock of where we are from the perspective of the farming and agri-food sector.
I have repeated ad nauseam from Cabinet meetings to conferences that I see no upside for the Irish agri-food sector from Brexit. The sector’s continued reliance on the UK market, together with the highly integrated nature of the trading relationship between the UK and Ireland, mean that we are uniquely exposed to the potential impact of Brexit. Therefore, I have been unapologetic within Government in demanding that the agri-food and fisheries sector must be treated as a priority. I assure farmers and the wider industry that this message is clear and has been heeded.
To date a lot of very good work has been done, and much progress has been made. Analysis of the potential implications of Brexit has been carried out, and we have identified our key priorities. These are:
To secure continued free access to the UK market for Irish agri-food exports, without tariffs and with minimal additional customs and administrative procedures. To minimise the risk from UK trade agreements with third countries, for example by having the EU and UK move forward in parallel on trade policy after Brexit.Consultation is essential to what is a co-ordinated national effort to secure the best possible outcome for Ireland from Brexit. After a period of informal discussions with stakeholders in the lead-up to last year’s referendum, I formally established a stakeholder consultative committee comprised of representatives of the entire agri-food sector, which met for the first time shortly after the referendum result was known. This committee has been immensely useful in allowing a regular exchange of views on the practical implications of Brexit with those who are actually doing business in or with the UK, as well as on the potential responses that the sector itself and the Government might deploy. It has been complemented by what I think has been the very effective involvement of the sector in the All-Island Civic Dialogue process co-ordinated by the Department of An Taoiseach.
Immediate impact
Of course, much of our attention since last June has been on trying to mitigate the immediate impact of the fall in the value of sterling against the euro, which has been particularly damaging for those that are heavily reliant on the UK market. In order to help the sector to deal with these difficulties, I have put in place a range of measures, including the new €150m low-cost loan scheme, additional funding for Bord Bia to provide tailored supports to affected companies, agri-taxation measures, and increased funding under the Rural Development Programme and the Seafood Development Programme.
There are other, longer-term implications. These include the potential for tariffs and their impact on trading arrangements, the possibility of divergence in regulations and standards between the EU and UK, and the difficulties that would be caused by any new border controls and veterinary and health certification requirements.
Again, all of these issues have been discussed with stakeholders in order to share a fuller understanding of the potential implications and possible responses. They have also informed the extensive engagement that I and my Department have undertaken with our EU member state counterparts. We need to ensure these implications are fully understood, that they are fully taken account of, and that the concerns of the agri-food sector are at the top of the EU agenda as the negotiations unfold.
Regular contact
I have been working intensively to make this happen. I am in regular contact with counterparts at the AgriFish Council meetings, and have held a series of formal bilateral meetings with key member states. Over the last number of weeks I have met with my counterparts in Berlin, The Hague, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Warsaw, Luxembourg and Paris. I also met my Spanish and Maltese counterparts on the margins of the March Council of Ministers, and my Austrian and Luxembourg colleagues on the margins of the April Council. Further bilaterals are planned over the next few weeks, and this activity is complemented by regular contact with Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and that of my officials with the Barnier Task Force.
I have put in place a number of practical steps, including the establishment of a Brexit response committee and a dedicated Brexit unit in my department.
We have also been putting considerable effort in recent years into opening new markets and building on existing potential. Additional resources have been provided to Bord Bia, and last year, Minister Doyle and I led trade missions to China, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea in September, and to north Africa in November. I also led a mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, and I am considering further destinations for 2017.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my personal commitment and that of my department and its agencies to doing our utmost for farmers and the agri-food industry throughout the challenges ahead.
It is over 320 days since the ballots were counted and the UK declared its intention to withdraw from the EU. I can honestly say that Brexit preparation has devoured my work and my thoughts for each and every one of those days. As the opening exchanges of the exit negotiations approach, I think now is a good time to take stock of where we are from the perspective of the farming and agri-food sector.
I have repeated ad nauseam from Cabinet meetings to conferences that I see no upside for the Irish agri-food sector from Brexit. The sector’s continued reliance on the UK market, together with the highly integrated nature of the trading relationship between the UK and Ireland, mean that we are uniquely exposed to the potential impact of Brexit. Therefore, I have been unapologetic within Government in demanding that the agri-food and fisheries sector must be treated as a priority. I assure farmers and the wider industry that this message is clear and has been heeded.
To date a lot of very good work has been done, and much progress has been made. Analysis of the potential implications of Brexit has been carried out, and we have identified our key priorities. These are:
To secure continued free access to the UK market for Irish agri-food exports, without tariffs and with minimal additional customs and administrative procedures. To minimise the risk from UK trade agreements with third countries, for example by having the EU and UK move forward in parallel on trade policy after Brexit.Consultation is essential to what is a co-ordinated national effort to secure the best possible outcome for Ireland from Brexit. After a period of informal discussions with stakeholders in the lead-up to last year’s referendum, I formally established a stakeholder consultative committee comprised of representatives of the entire agri-food sector, which met for the first time shortly after the referendum result was known. This committee has been immensely useful in allowing a regular exchange of views on the practical implications of Brexit with those who are actually doing business in or with the UK, as well as on the potential responses that the sector itself and the Government might deploy. It has been complemented by what I think has been the very effective involvement of the sector in the All-Island Civic Dialogue process co-ordinated by the Department of An Taoiseach.
Immediate impact
Of course, much of our attention since last June has been on trying to mitigate the immediate impact of the fall in the value of sterling against the euro, which has been particularly damaging for those that are heavily reliant on the UK market. In order to help the sector to deal with these difficulties, I have put in place a range of measures, including the new €150m low-cost loan scheme, additional funding for Bord Bia to provide tailored supports to affected companies, agri-taxation measures, and increased funding under the Rural Development Programme and the Seafood Development Programme.
There are other, longer-term implications. These include the potential for tariffs and their impact on trading arrangements, the possibility of divergence in regulations and standards between the EU and UK, and the difficulties that would be caused by any new border controls and veterinary and health certification requirements.
Again, all of these issues have been discussed with stakeholders in order to share a fuller understanding of the potential implications and possible responses. They have also informed the extensive engagement that I and my Department have undertaken with our EU member state counterparts. We need to ensure these implications are fully understood, that they are fully taken account of, and that the concerns of the agri-food sector are at the top of the EU agenda as the negotiations unfold.
Regular contact
I have been working intensively to make this happen. I am in regular contact with counterparts at the AgriFish Council meetings, and have held a series of formal bilateral meetings with key member states. Over the last number of weeks I have met with my counterparts in Berlin, The Hague, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Warsaw, Luxembourg and Paris. I also met my Spanish and Maltese counterparts on the margins of the March Council of Ministers, and my Austrian and Luxembourg colleagues on the margins of the April Council. Further bilaterals are planned over the next few weeks, and this activity is complemented by regular contact with Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and that of my officials with the Barnier Task Force.
I have put in place a number of practical steps, including the establishment of a Brexit response committee and a dedicated Brexit unit in my department.
We have also been putting considerable effort in recent years into opening new markets and building on existing potential. Additional resources have been provided to Bord Bia, and last year, Minister Doyle and I led trade missions to China, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea in September, and to north Africa in November. I also led a mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates earlier this year, and I am considering further destinations for 2017.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my personal commitment and that of my department and its agencies to doing our utmost for farmers and the agri-food industry throughout the challenges ahead.
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