My Department has been working intensively, with other Departments and agencies, through whole-of-Government coordination structures, on all aspects of Brexit preparedness. From an agri food perspective, this will include the provision of the necessary infrastructure and resources to carry out import controls at ports and airports on animal, plants, and products of animal and plant origin imported from the UK, as well as to provide any necessary export certification required by the UK in respect of such products. We will also have to ensure that arrangements are in place to facilitate rapid transit of product via the UK landbridge between Ireland and other Member States.
The introduction of these measures will involve the allocation of significant additional infrastructural, staffing and IT resources at ports, airports, exporting plants and Department offices. From a staffing perspective, my Department's immediate planning relates to the phased recruitment of staff for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), and fisheries controls over the period to 2021. This will commence with Phase One in 2019, which will involve the recruitment of an additional 116 SPS and fisheries control staff, as agreed by Government on 18 September. Arrangements are currently being put in place to commence this recruitment process.
