Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am advised by Revenue that there have been more than 17,200 EORI registrations so far this year. There has been a significant increase in registrations since the start of the latest phase of Revenue's trader engagement programme, which commenced in July of this year.  Almost 5,000 businesses registered in August, with an additional 4,418 businesses having registered so far this month. This brings the total number of registrations to just over 57,000. The current phase of the trader engagement programme encompasses all businesses that traded with the UK in 2018 and the first half of 2019.  Such businesses were identified by Revenue through analysis of VAT information exchanges system returns. Each business that traded with the UK in 2018 or first half of 2019 has been written to and is being provided with suggestions regarding the steps it needs to take. Additional follow-up telephone contact is being made with businesses that have the largest volumes of trade with the UK - greater than €5,000 - and those that trade most frequently with the UK, which would be at least quarterly. We believe there are approximately 44,000 such businesses. Revenue has directly contacted almost 25,000 of the 44,000 businesses and expects to contact the rest of them by the end of this month. Some 90% of the total value of imports from the UK in 2018 was carried out by businesses that now have an EORI number. Some 97% of the total value of exports to the UK in 2018 was carried out by businesses that now have an EORI number. The outstanding businesses that need to get a number, which comprise a low share of this country's total exports to the UK, or imports from the UK, are valuable companies that employ people. This is why the engagement programme will continue until the end of this month.

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