Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I want to raise the issue of hauliers. They are still encountering difficulties and challenges when they present themselves at ports. I am going to use some jargon here. When they arrive at a port, they must prepare a customs entry form and obtain a movement reference number, MRN. This is basically getting pre-clearance. They then need to complete an entry summary declaration, ENS, which is essentially a security document and nearly a duplicate of the document they have already completed. Finally, they must prepare a pre-boarding notification, PBN, before they leave on the ship. There was supposed to be Revenue software available to tally all of this, match it up and ensure that the process was quite seamless. There have been a number of glitches with the software. There was supposed to be a mobile app and an on-board electronic notice board to simplify matters. They have not been working and I am told that some of them are not fully in place. This makes it difficult and challenging for hauliers to board a ship and bring their freight with them.

Recently the Oireachtas transport committee heard testimony from two really good witnesses, namely, Damien Regan from Clare and Kieran O'Callaghan from Limerick.

They are proposing that we would have an air cargo bridge from Ireland into Europe. Brexit should not be all about the disadvantages and this proposal represents an opportunity. At the moment, only 1% of all freight leaving Ireland does so through air channels. The committee witnesses are suggesting that Shannon Airport, given its long runway and extensive hangar space, would be an ideal place for a cargo bridge. I would like to hear the Minister's view on this. I understand the witnesses have given a lot of detailed information on their proposal to his Department.

I hope the Minister can respond to my final point, which concerns the arrival of 140 students from Algeria to Ireland in the past two days as part of a study abroad programme. I did an Erasmus study programme back in 2002. It is a fantastic programme and a wonderful opportunity. In normal times, every student should be encouraged to do it, but perhaps not during level 5 Covid restrictions. The students from Algeria have arrived at a time when students of the University of Limerick cannot enter the campus, despite living only 1 km or 2 km away. Suddenly, there is an influx of 140 students who have come into the country from an airport in Algeria. I know Covid restrictions are in place and the students are quarantining but their arrival is against the spirit of the level 5 restrictions. I would like to hear the Minister's views on that.

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