Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2020
261. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses who have applied for economic operator and registration identification, EORI, numbers in order to trade with the UK post-Brexit; if there has been a campaign to encourage businesses to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26408/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that in 2020 to date there have been 4,693 registrations for customs and that since the introduction of the EORI (Economic Operators Registration Identification) number in 2009, 68,856 businesses have registered for customs with Revenue. 93% of the import trade with the UK in 2019 was carried out by businesses who now have an EORI number, with 97% of the 2019 export trade with the UK being carried out by businesses who now have an EORI number.
Revenue has intensified its trade engagement activities to support businesses in their preparations for Customs formalities from 1 January 2021.
In July, Revenue wrote to 57,000 businesses who traded in goods with the UK since 2019 and who, at that time, were not registered for customs and therefore did not have an EORI number and outlined a range of steps to be taken to get Brexit ready. To assist that registration process Revenue has provided on its website a helpful step by step guidance video for businesses.
At the start of September, Revenue wrote to some 90,000 businesses, both those with an EORI and those without an EORI, who traded in goods with the UK at any time in 2019 or in the first half of 2020. These are businesses who if they continue trade, either by way of imports or exports or both with Great Britain after I January will need to be Brexit ready in less than just 100 days from now. The business concerned must be able to complete the necessary customs formalities from that date in order to be able to move goods to and through Great Britain. For trade with Northern Ireland only, customs formalities will not apply.
Revenue is now undertaking, as part of this intensified engagement, follow-up telephone calls with some 14,000 businesses of the 90,000 that it has written to, who Revenue identified as likely to be the most significantly impacted by Brexit.
In addition to the letters and follow up telephone contacts, a further initiative under Revenue's trade engagement programme, is a two-day series of live streamed Brexit information sessions which will take place on the 5th and 6th of October 2020. Revenue will provide important information to help businesses to get ready for trading with Great Britain from 1 January 2021. Full details of each session and a link to participate can be found on www.revenue.ie/brexit.
The work being undertaken by Revenue to support businesses and trade to get Brexit ready is hugely important. The message for trade and business that will be impacted by Brexit is very clear. Its time to get ready and its essential to be ready for 1 January.
