Jack Wall
Ceist:190 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance the position in regard to a submission (details supplied); the advice which can be given to such companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4904/03]
Written Answers. - Security of International Trade.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism, CTPAT, is a joint US Government business programme which is aimed at increasing the security of the international trade supply chain with a view to combating the risk of terrorist threat to the US. US businesses which sign up to C-TPAT agree to carry out certain activities which improve the security of their operations and, in return, can expect to benefit from a facilitative regime with regard to the customs clearance of their imports into the US. The activities or guidelines encompass the following areas: procedural security, physical security, personnel security, education and training, access controls, manifest procedures and conveyance security.
One of the commitments of C-TPAT is that participating businesses should communicate the security guidelines to other companies in the trade supply chain with whom they do business with a view to building the guidelines into their relationship with those companies. Irish based subsidiaries of US companies and Irish companies exporting to the US are likely, therefore, to be contacted by their US trading partners in this regard and may, as a result, examine their own security procedures with a view to enhancing them if necessary. This is precisely what has happened in the case of the Irish subsidiary of a US company, details of which were supplied with this parliamentary question. Revenue officials have discussed these developments with the company in question and briefed it on the up to date position.
At present, Revenue, as the Irish Customs administration, does not operate a programme similar to C-TPAT. However, the EU Commission is currently in discussions with US Customs in relation to trade chain security matters and it is possible that at some future date there may be agreement on certain specific security measures to be applied by all member states of the EU. Irish Customs is also participating in the work of the World Customs Organisation, WCO, which is currently in the process of developing security guidelines for its members worldwide. The outcome of that work may also be a factor in what may finally be agreed at EU level.
The US developments in trade security have been discussed with trade bodies in the customs consultative council, a forum where Revenue meets with trade bodies on matters of mutual interest. If and when additional security requirements are agreed in relation to international trade, these will be communicated by Revenue to trade operators and discussed with them.