Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
115. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his UK counterpart the issue of Border checks on trucks originating here and arriving in the UK from Rosslare Europort but that plan to travel onwards to another EU country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32177/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Health and Revenue continue to work with the European Commission and other EU Member States on options in relation the transport of goods to / from Ireland and the European continent via Great Britain (commonly known as the landbridge).
While improved direct maritime links to the continent will be helpful, the landbridge will remain very important in moving products to the rest of the Single Market, and vice versa.
Ireland has sought to ensure that the transport of goods is facilitated through the EU’s internal customs transit procedure, and that the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on agri-food goods are conducted in the most efficient manner possible.
Upon leaving the EU, the United Kingdom will accede to the Common Transit Convention (CTC). Under the Convention, goods moving from Ireland to another Member State via the UK, or vice versa, will, following the UK's departure from the EU, move under the Customs Transit Procedure. Once Union goods are moving under the Customs Transit Procedure from one Member State to another through a third country, no duties or taxes will be applicable. However a financial guarantee will be required for each consignment. The third country must also facilitate the transit of the goods by completing an office of transit function.
Since December 2018, considerable progress has been made in clarifying the application of EU rules and an agreed understanding has been reached on the continued use of the landbridge under the internal transit procedure. Work continues at a technical level to provide absolute clarity on the application of certain EU rules and procedures with regard to SPS controls on animals and products of animal origin.
All work undertaken to date has been designed to ensure that EU and Irish operators can continue to use the landbridge in an effective and efficient way. However, use of the landbridge after Brexit will not replicate the status quo for operators, and will depend on traders being compliant with the new requirements set out above. In addition, in the event of a disorderly Brexit delays in the movement of trucks to and at ports could be significant. Therefore, over the coming months, both Government and businesses need to take the necessary steps to prepare.
In order to make best possible use of the landbridge after Brexit, I strongly encourage businesses to follow the advice set out in the Government's Brexit Contingency Action Plan Update, published on 9 July.
