Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Brexit Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Ceisteanna (477)

Lisa Chambers

Ceist:

477. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the preparations made at the Port of Cork in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3813/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An interdepartmental committee established in 2018, which includes the Revenue Commissioners, my own Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, DAFM, the Health Service Executive’s Environmental Health Service and the OPW, has been meeting regularly to assess and coordinate the additional infrastructure requirements of our Ports and Airports in preparation for Brexit.

The two ports which will be mainly affected by Brexit when the UK becomes a Third County are Dublin and Rosslare. The OPW is engaging with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the additional infrastructure to carry out any necessary import controls becomes operational in a timely manner.

There are no sanitary and phytosanitary checks carried out in the Port of Cork. The port is, however, approved to handle bulk shipments of wood and plant-based derivatives at the current container terminal in Tivoli and has been engaging with DAFM in respect of its existing third country trade (bulk wood products).

Port of Cork has identified the need for a BIP, Border Inspection Post, in its plans as part of a new €86 million container terminal in Ringaskiddy, and the Port has engaged with both Customs and the DAFM on this matter. Should there be modal shift from RORO to LOLO the Port of Cork has spare capacity to cater for additional LOLO.

My Department has also sought to assess the existing maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the Landbridge. Brittany Ferries has already recently established a new direct route from Cork to Santander in Spain, creating capacity for 35,000 additional freight units annually.

Barr
Roinn