Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will cut to the chase on this one. Revenue has told the Minister it requires 600 additional staff in the scenario of an orderly Brexit and a transition period to the end of 2020. When does it need those 600 staff by? Is it by March of next year or by the end of 2020? The Government will deliver 200 additional staff by the end of March 2019, which is well short of the 600 required, being just one third of the number requested. That is all in the context of a deal being done. What extra resources does Revenue need if this all goes wrong? If we have a cliff-edge Brexit and there is no deal by the end of March 2019, has Revenue given the Minister an estimate of the extra resources it would require in that scenario? If 600 additional staff are required in case of an orderly Brexit, a transition period and a future trade deal between EU and the UK, what number is required if there is no deal? Presumably it will be a significantly larger number. I hope the Minister can give the House clarity on that matter.

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