Dáil debates

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Motion

 

3:10 pm

Photo of Danny Healy-RaeDanny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very concerned about the cut in quotas for our fishermen. I see a noticeable reduction in the number of lorries going through Kilgarvan village from Castletownbere. They traditionally travelled that way every evening and night. There has already been a serious reduction in traffic on that route.

Many businesses throughout the County of Kerry have contacted me regarding problems with data protection in respect of goods they have traditionally sourced from the UK which they are having brought in by couriers and hauliers. They say that they have to complete unnecessary invoices specifying the goods and their cost as the couriers and hauliers need them to get through customs. They are worried that this will expose them to more competition as the cost of everything will be known, as will what they get for their produce after bringing it in. Regulatory barriers are a problem.

This is one of them. We hear much about data protection. We must look after our businesses here; they are bad enough with the coronavirus and everything else. These invoices should not need to be shown. There should be some other way such as a customs clearance certificate not specifying the value of their goods or how much they paid for them. I ask the Minister to ensure that problem is sorted out.

There is agri-friction in respect of the British bringing beef and other food into their country. That will definitely have a negative impact on our farmers and we must do our best to ensure that we do not accommodate those outside sources in the European Union in order to counteract them.

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