asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that duty-free facilities have been refused to the company operating the ferry service between Moville, in County Donegal and Oban in Scotland which began this year; and if he will arrange to have such facilities granted to the service which can become an important factor in the development of tourism in the north-west of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duty-free Facilities.
11.
No application has been received for duty-free facilities in respect of a direct ferry service linking Moville in County Donegal and Oban in Scotland. Duty-free facilities have been refused to a company operating a ferry service on a route from Oban to Portrush in County Antrim, and connecting with Moville on each journey.
The agreement with the United Kingdom customs authorities on the introduction of duty-free facilities on voyages between the State and the United Kingdom requires that the respective authorities jointly approve the sea routes on which such facilities are granted, the major prerequisite for such approval being the ability to exercise appropriate control measures. Due to difficulties relating to the Moville-Portrush-Moville stages of the route joint agreement on the grant of approval of duty-free facilities to the company in question was not possible.
Is the Minister saying that if this or any other ferry service was operating direct from the Scottish coast to the Donegal coast such facilities would be granted?
I believe that if an application were made for a service plying direct between the Scottish coast and Donegal it would be favourably considered.
Is no such application yet to hand?
No.
There will be.