2498. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 626 and 627 of 7 July 2026, whether the conclusion that 'the criteria for making an application to the Agricultural Reserve were not considered to have been met' was based on a written assessment, report, briefing note, options paper or other recorded analysis; if so, the title and date of each such document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55378/26]

2499. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 626 and 627 of 7 July 2026, whether any official of his Department had any formal or informal contact, whether by correspondence, meeting, telephone call or electronic communication, with the European Commission concerning the possibility of seeking support under the EU Agricultural Reserve for potato growers affected by the adverse weather conditions experienced during the 2023 harvest; if so, the dates of such contacts, the persons involved and the general nature of the matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55379/26]

2500. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 348 and 350 of 9 July 2026, in which he confirmed that funding under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1465 was used to compensate growers for unharvested tillage crops arising from the adverse weather conditions of 2023; the assessment which was undertaken of the eligibility of the potato sector for support under the same Regulation; the objective criteria which distinguished potato growers from tillage growers for the purposes of eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55380/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2498, 2499 and 2500 together.

The Agriculture Crisis Reserve is an emergency fund within the Common Agricultural Policy designed to provide rapid financial support when farmers face severe, unexpected crises that disrupt agricultural markets such as extreme weather events, disease outbreaks or impacts from geopolitical events.

It is not intended to cover automatic compensation for every loss. Instead, it is used selectively for exceptional situations where coordinated EU action is considered necessary.

My Department, as a member of the Potato Development Group, collaborates with Teagasc, Bord Bia, and the IFA in the development and support of the potato sector. Informed by the long-standing expertise, knowledge and sectoral insights of the Potato Development Group, my Department continuously monitored the situation with respect to the 2023 potato crop harvest across the sector in late 2023 and early 2024 given the challenges posed by the weather conditions in that period. The adverse weather impacted growers to differing extents around the country. However, the vast majority of the 2023 planted crop was harvested, with a 97% harvested rate achieved based on industry estimates. Overall, the potato sector remained relatively strong throughout 2023 and in 2024 despite the challenges posed by the weather events of 2023.

Given the high threshold for state intervention, the very high level of crop harvesting nationally, with less than 3% of the potato crop remaining unharvested and the robustness of the sector during the period, it was the decision of the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a decision subsequently reaffirmed in my Ministerial capacity, that the criteria for making an application to the Reserve were not considered to have been met and it was not possible to provide assistance by way of compensation for losses to the sector.