Brexit Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Ceisteanna (2260, 2261, 2289, 2292)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

2260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he last met his UK counterpart to discuss the challenges of a no-deal Brexit. [34554/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

2261. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has examined capacity issues at all airports and sea ports; his views on whether, following Brexit, there may be longer queues; the actions he has taken to address this; if there will be a need to redirect sailings from ports with capacity issues to ports with spare capacity; and if legislative changes are required. [34555/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

2289. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the challenges that a hard Brexit would present to Ireland's agricultural exporters and on the need to increase cold-storage and other customs facilities in this event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35154/18]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

2292. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality on the challenges that a hard Brexit would present to Ireland's exporters and on the need to increase the number of customs officials present at Ireland's ports and airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35157/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2260, 2261, 2289 and 2292 together.

The co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through a number of cross-Departmental coordination structures. To this end, my Department is engaged with all relevant Departments and state agencies in working towards ensuring that we are prepared for the challenges that a hard or no-deal Brexit may present for our exporters, traders and businesses.

As an island nation, Ireland is entirely dependent on maritime and aviation networks for trade, tourism and the movement of people. We are also dependent to a high degree on our international road hauliers in getting goods to and from the UK and to our other European and wider markets. Any additional regulatory or other barriers to the current access arrangements between the UK and Ireland, including Northern Ireland and Ireland, will be severely detrimental to the efficiency of our transport services and operators and to the overall economy. Certain sectors, including the agrifood and fish sectors, would be particularly affected by any delays or additional costs experienced at ports or airports.

The EU’s single market has facilitated the efficiency of our logistics sector by removing many of the barriers of trading within the EU. While Brexit has the potential to impose disruption to this sector, our State bodies and key Government Departments are working together with our ports and airports to plan for and to manage and minimise any potential impacts that may arise within those ports and airports.

As part of our work on contingency planning, Departments, including my own, have now been tasked by the Government to prepare detailed Action Plans with a view to advancing, as appropriate, the mitigating measures which have been identified from the planning to the implementation phase. This work will involve my Department working closely with all relevant Departments and bodies, particularly the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, and the Office of Public Work in preparing our ports and airports for Brexit.

The Government has already approved a number of key Brexit preparedness measures focused on East-West trade and by the end of September, detailed and costed plans will be presented to Government on the following: in the region of 200 extra full time staff to carry out Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks and controls at ports and airports; in the region of 120 extra full time staff to prepare export certificates at ports and airports; in the region of 600-700 full time staff to carry out relevant controls at ports and airports; and upgrading of infrastructure at ports and airports, in particular Dublin and Rosslare Ports, to facilitate increased customs and SPS controls.

Brexit also highlights the importance of our international maritime connectivity and the importance of continuing investment to further improve the quality of port facilities. In the past shipping operators, which are market driven, have responded to economic developments and have increased or reduced capacity in response to market demands. I am confident that shipping services can be expected to adapt to any changing market demands and we have seen the evidence of this over recent months with the actual and planned increase in shipping capacity on direct routes to continental ports. The ports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes are all also currently undertaking major capital infrastructure programmes, which will enhance national and international connectivity. I do not envisage a need for any legislative changes at this time.

I last met my UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP, in 2017 and have not had the opportunity to meet him this year. It is important to remember that the Brexit negotiations are being led by the European Commission’s Article 50 Task Force and the Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, who is keenly aware of Ireland’s concerns.