Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's last question, making online purchases from the UK is something that large numbers of Irish consumers have been doing on a daily basis, particularly throughout the Covid period when local retailers were closed because of restrictions. Even though there is a lot of evidence that there has been very strong support for purchasing locally online, there is still a huge number of platforms based in the UK from which Irish consumers make purchases. The truth is that there is now a different arrangement in place. The automatic consumer protections that applied under EU directives and so on when the UK was part of the EU, its Single Market and its customs union, are no longer there.

Added to that are potential taxation complications. It is a matter of understanding that the price advertised will be the price paid, including taxes. There are also potential delivery challenges. We have seen a number of haulage companies temporarily stall or stop deliveries because of the need to understand the paperwork of the new systems that are being put in place. Therefore, there is ongoing adjustment that is impacting the pace of delivery. That is absolutely true. We need to say to our consumers and the public very clearly that they should be aware of the risks when they buy online now. They cannot simply assume, because a brand or platform is credible, that they will be able to have the kinds of delivery times that were taken for granted up to the end of last year.

With regard to fishing, all I can say to the Deputy is that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I have spent a huge amount of time speaking to the industry to ensure Irish fishing interests are very much part of Brexit negotiations. That conversation is continuing, even after the Brexit deal has been done, in the context of fair burden-sharing, support packages and so on. It will continue. The Taoiseach is also involved in that. I have heard a lot of loose talk and criticism. I can understand the frustration in many of our fishing ports in that their element of the Brexit deal has resulted in a loss of fishing opportunities, particularly for certain species, mackerel being the best example. We will, however, continue to work with the sector. It is important and we will do everything we can to protect it.

I am not aware of any changes regarding students from Northern Ireland coming to universities down here. Certainly, they will not be treated as international students.

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