Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
172. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if the extra customs officers being recruited will solely be deployed to the country’s ports and airports; and if they will have a role in cross-Border trade even though all agree that a hard Border on the island of Ireland is not planned. [35085/18]
View answer235. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners anticipate increased levels of customs checks and enforcement following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33618/18]
View answer236. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to date and plans to take in preparation for post-Brexit customs checks at ports here specifically Rosslare Europort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33622/18]
View answer251. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the contingency plans the Revenue Commissioners are putting in place to deal with the scenario of a no-deal, hard Brexit from the customs perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33859/18]
View answer261. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the contingencies that have been put in place by the Revenue Commissioners to deal with a new customs regime in the event of a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33876/18]
View answer311. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the involvement he or his officials had in preparing to employ additional customs and agricultural officers for all ports; the number of additional personnel that will be appointed to each port and each airport; the way in which the number was reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34549/18]
View answer312. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance when preparations for additional staff began in view of an interview given by the CEO of Dublin Port the morning after the announcement that there would be 1,000 additional officials hired to prepare for a hard Brexit (details supplied); when the jobs will be advertised; the timeframe to complete the recruitment process; the timeframe for training; and when employment will be commenced. [34553/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 235, 236, 251, 261, 311 and 312 together.
The Government’s contingency planning for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016. To this end, co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and on 18 July the Tánaiste presented a Memorandum to the Government on Brexit Preparedness and Contingency Planning.
Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, was identified as an early priority and is now well advanced. Its focus is on the immediate economic, regulatory and operational challenges which would result from such an outcome. It assumes a trading relationship based on the default WTO rules, but also examines the possible effects on many other areas of concern.
My Department, along with the Revenue Commissioners, is actively engaged in this planning work which has intensified in recent months and is now well advanced. The planning, as appropriate, includes any specific responses necessary according to regional needs and at the county level.
This work has provided baseline scenarios for the impact of Brexit across all sectors, which can then be adapted as appropriate in light of developments in the EU-UK negotiations. This is enabling the modelling of potential responses under different scenarios, such as one where a withdrawal agreement, including a transitional arrangement, is concluded and where a Free Trade Agreement is the basis for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
On the basis of this work, relevant Departments have now been tasked by the Government to rollout detailed Action Plans with a view to advancing, as appropriate, the mitigating measures which have been identified in the areas of their responsibility from the planning to the implementation phase.
In line with this approach, the Government has already approved a number of key Brexit preparedness measures focused on East-West trade and by the end of September, detailed and costed plans will be presented to Government on additional full time customs staff to carry out relevant controls at ports and airports; and upgrading of infrastructure at ports and airports, in particular Dublin and Rosslare Ports, to facilitate increased customs and SPS controls.
Revenue’s priority to date has been on upgrading relevant IT systems to have the most advanced systems possible to support and facilitate smooth and efficient trade flows. Performance testing is well advanced and I am assured by Revenue that based on the work completed to date they are confident that the various IT systems will support the expected additional work load arising from Brexit, ensuring customs processes can continue to operate effectively and efficiently post-Brexit.
Allied to this upgrading of IT systems, I am advised by Revenue that it continues to examine the full range of simplifications provided for within the Union Customs Code. There are several customs authorisations and simplifications that traders may avail of when completing their customs formalities. Revenue is meeting with representative groups and attending industry seminars to discuss the potential issues resulting from Brexit. Revenue has advised and continues to advise and encourage businesses to examine the possible impacts of Brexit on their supply chains and to consider applying for one or more of the authorisations or simplifications available that best suit their business model. Advice and assistance on customs authorisations and simplifications is available on the Revenue website and Revenue is ready to support businesses that wish to apply to avail of them.
