Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Over the weekend it was revealed by Tony Connelly of RTÉ that Revenue has undertaken comprehensive and substantive work on the implications of Brexit on the future trading relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was basically stated that there would be an enormous physical and economic impact on our country and on trade and that the impact on the customs infrastructure would be very significant indeed. There are 91,000 companies in this country that trade with the UK and that need to know this kind of thing: the bread and butter of what Brexit could look like. The people working at the coal face in Revenue have been doing this very commendable work indeed. Enormous paperwork will ensue and there will be enormous implications for human resources, physical space requirements and storage facilities for import and export. The Revenue report also makes some very strong points, including the very obvious one that once negotiations have been completed the UK will become a third country for customs purposes and the associated formalities will become unavoidable. While this will affect all member states, the effect will be more profound in Ireland as the only EU country with a land border with the UK. The report states that it would be particularly naive to believe that a new and extremely unique arrangement can be negotiated and applied to the EU-UK land frontier.

This report has, in essence, been buried by the Taoiseach and the Government. Fianna Fáil's Brexit spokesman, Deputy Donnelly, our finance spokesman, Deputy Michael McGrath, and Deputy Browne have each tabled numerous Parliamentary Questions regarding Revenue's work in this area. What kind of work has been undertaken? Have specific reports been published? On 11 September Deputy Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance "if his Department has conducted an assessment of the additional number of customs officials that may be required in the event of the UK leaving the customs union; and if will make a statement on the matter." Deputy Browne and Deputy Burton asked similar questions. There was no reference in the reply to these questions to any internal work undertaken by Revenue or to a report of this kind and magnitude. The Taoiseach's predecessor said that he would share this kind of information with party leaders and with the Oireachtas. I see no logic or rationale as to why this report was suppressed. Failing to share this with the Oireachtas and with the general public shows bad faith on the part of the Taoiseach and the Government. I see no rationale as to why it was buried in the manner that it was, other than the fact that it might be the kind of story and the kind of negativity that the Taoiseach did not want to get out. The Revenue report gives the harsh reality of what Brexit could be like and would have been of value to everybody if we could have got it in time. Why, after so many Parliamentary Questions, did the Government stonewall on this particular issue?

See this speech in context