James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste knows, the UK landbridge is strategically important for Ireland's economy. Two thirds of our exports to the Continent, comprising 3 million tonnes or €100 billion worth of trade in 150,000 trucks per year, go over the landbridge. The UK exit from the EU will obviously complicate that. As the Tánaiste stated, the UK has signed up to the common transit convention but it is my understanding that agrifood products and live animal products are not covered under the latter. The Tánaiste might clarify whether that is the case. He might also clarify what will be the role of non-Irish citizens driving trucks. For example, if a Romanian or a Polish national is driving an Irish truck, will he or she still be covered under the common transit convention in order to access the UK landbridge? Will he also address the congestion that may be faced by trucks at Dover, as I understand this has still not been resolved? Will he confirm whether he has raised the ownership of Rosslare Europort with his counterpart in the UK?

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