Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all recognise that Brexit is the greatest threat facing the economies of this island and particularly the imposition of an economic border. There was confirmation by Revenue at last week's meeting of the joint Oireachtas committee on finance that there will be significant customs checks, which flatly contradicts the Taoiseach's denial that it will happen. Revenue told the committee at least 8% of the 2 million heavy goods vehicle journeys between North and South each year will need to be checked, including physical inspections.

This means that approximately 160,000 heavy goods vehicles will be subject to customs checks each year. Will the Taoiseach update the Dáil on the work taking place to prepare for customs checks and, in light of his denials that Border checkpoints or customs checks were being planned, perhaps set the record straight? How many customs officials is it anticipated will be needed? Has the Government estimated the likely cost of implementing European Union law in respect of border customs security?

At the same meeting, an official from the Department of the Taoiseach confirmed that the Government has never raised designated status for the North with the European Union. I have been asking the Taoiseach questions on this matter for a long time and he has always avoided confirming this. The Dáil, Seanad and Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have all endorsed the need for special designated status for the North. The vast majority of people in the North voted for this status, or at least they voted to remain in the EU, and the majority of MLAs support it. The Taoiseach's responsibility should be to defend this vote. Will he start to do so? Will he indicate when the Government's additional paper on the economic implications of Brexit will be published?

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