Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor difficulties experienced by Irish exporters arising from Brexit; the measures in place or proposed in respect of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17287/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs, working closely across Government with key Departments and agencies, continues to closely monitor Ireland’s trade with the UK and to support Irish exporters address the challenges that continue to be raise by the outworkings of Brexit.
While the loss of pre-Brexit trading arrangements with the United Kingdom has been challenging, following the initial period of adjustment, the trading environment has broadly settled with Irish traders showing real resilience and adaptability.
Our two-way bilateral trade in goods and services was worth €122 billion in 2022. That amounts to about €2.4 billion per week. Ireland was the UK’s sixth largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2023.
The UK remains a key market for Ireland’s agri-food sector in particular, with exports to GB in 2022 worth €6.8 billion, representing 36% of total food exports.
Irish exporters are currently navigating a new set of post-Brexit changes, with the introduction by the UK of new import controls this year.
The UK has been introducing customs and Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary (SPS) checks on imports from the EU, including Ireland, in stages, as part of its Border Target Operating Model. The first phase of these new controls came into effect at the end of January this year, with a further phase upcoming at the end of April, and future phases planned for the introduction of physical controls.
These new controls have implications for all Irish exporters to Great Britain, particularly agri-food exporters, including those using the UK Landbridge.
The Government has led extensive stakeholder engagement to make sure that all affected Irish stakeholders (including producers, manufacturers, hauliers, logistics companies, ferry operators and ports) are fully aware of the new UK requirements.
In the lead up to the January milestone, the Government rolled out an intensive communications campaign to raise awareness among Irish audiences of the new UK rules, including a local and regional media, online and social media advertising campaign.
While the first phase in January represented a significant change, overall the transition to the new UK rules went broadly smoothly, due to the high level of engagement and preparation by Irish exporters.
The Government is continuing to engage with the British Government to prepare for the next milestone, coming up on 30 April, which will primarily impact trade between Britain and the rest of the EU, but will also have potential impacts for Irish traders using Britain as a landbridge to the EU.
The Government will continue to engage with Irish exporters and all stakeholders in the supply chain to support them in their adaption to these new UK rules and to future milestones to come.
More broadly, the Government continues to provide a wide range of supports to business who continue to adapt their business to the post-Brexit trading environment. Enterprise Ireland, for example, provides grants and funding supports for Irish exporters, such as market access grants, business innovation grants and strategic consultancy grants. Outside of grants and funding, there are also other supports offered to exporters such as export development assistance, training and development as well as in-market support in Great Britain.
