Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
351. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of transportation and ready access to the European market for Irish food exports and that resolution in respect of any obstacles is in hand with particular reference to transport, customs and the meeting of delivery schedules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/21]
View answerA key priority in the lead up to the end of the transition period was to ensure continued maritime connectivity with both our UK and EU markets. Throughout 2020, and at the beginning of 2021, there has been an unprecedented response from the shipping industry in terms of increasing capacity to match market demand, in particular in relation to new options for direct EU Roll-on Roll-off and Load-on Load-off services. Since 1st January 2021, the process for moving agri food goods directly between Ireland and other EU Member States has not changed and is not subject to new procedures.
However, the process for moving goods to the European market via the UK landbridge has changed significantly since 1st January, with EU and UK customs and regulatory requirements applying to transits. The effect of these additional requirements is, in some cases, proving challenging for agri-food exporters.
Ireland has undertaken substantial engagements at political and official level across the EU to ensure that Irish goods moving under transit across the UK landbridge are not subject to additional and unnecessary checks and controls. This engagement is ongoing, and includes reviewing operational experience in terms of Customs and SPS controls for exporters using the landbridge.
There has been a marked decrease in landbridge traffic since 1st January, but it is difficult to assess whether this is a permanent shift or a case of operators prioritising certainty over costs in the short term by using direct routes to mainland Europe. In any event, for time-sensitive agri-food products, the landbridge is likely to continue to be an important route to market.
