Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the fact that the Government is recreating a customs clearance industry and that particular new arrangements are being established which will utilise technology. Nonetheless, at each service point for Border-based transactions when crossing to or from the United Kingdom, there will have to be some kind of oversight, preferably electronic, and there will also have to be a physical presence with people being available to conduct inspections as required.

The same pertains to other people and veterinary inspectors in particular. During the debate on the Bill, there has been very little information from the Government, perhaps because the Minister himself has not been taking part. He has, however, been quite forthcoming this morning. Businesses along the Border are desperately worried. The head of Dublin Port showed the new booths there the other night on television. No one along the Border, though, knows what is going to happen. People are guessing.

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