Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
813. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the general Brexit preparations for the forest and timber sector ahead of 1 January 2020, with specific reference to registration procedures, import procedures, export procedures, phytosanitary checks and wood packaging material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40348/20]
View answerMy Department has undertaken a range of initiatives over the last four years preparing for Brexit, including investments in infrastructure in ports and airports; staffing; the development of IT support systems; and communications with stakeholders.
In addition the Government has also made available a range of supports, including advisory, financial, and upskilling supports to all businesses to help them in their preparations.
The details of these supports are accessible through the 'Getting Ireland Brexit Ready' website hosted by the Department of the Taoiseach: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/de6c1-brexit-and-business/
More specifically, with regard to the agri-food and fisheries sectors, including the forestry and timber sector, detailed information and practical steps for businesses on trading with Great Britain, have been set out on the same website.
My Department has also prepared a number of issue and sector specific Trader Notices for businesses to help them to prepare and is providing further assistance to those businesses in preparing for the changes, through its dedicated call centre. The call centre can be contacted by telephone or email at 076 106 4443 and Brexitcall@agriculture.gov.ie.
In addition, dedicated forestry staff from my Department have established and maintained engagement directly with the Irish sawmilling sector, wood packaging material producers and third country timber importers. This has included visits by my officials to places of production, detailed consultations with stakeholder representatives including IBEC and Forest Industries Ireland, and direct discussions with companies operating in the sector.
This has all been with the clear objective of both explaining the new phytosanitary import and export requirements that will arise as a result of the UK leaving the EU, and to inform my Department's own planning and communications activities around these matters.
If businesses in the forestry and timber sector have any specific queries in relation to any of these matters I strongly encourage them to access the supports outlined above and to contact my Department’s dedicated call centre.
