Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cowen is right that there have been challenges since 1 January. There were always going to be challenges. We are moving to a new trading arrangement, with new requirements that many businesses have not had to deal with in generations. In that context, there have been interdepartmental meetings on a daily basis since the beginning of January. That has now gone down to every two or three days as some of the challenges have been addressed.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has raised issues in terms of the challenges its members are facing in getting product from the UK to Ireland. I understand it had a very productive meeting with senior officials in Revenue last week, who have given an undertaking to explore what further flexibilities can be enabled. I know that Revenue's systems have gone down on a number of occasions, particularly at peak times, because there has been so much traffic. That is very regrettable. I have spoken to senior Revenue officials today and they are trying to ensure it is addressed.

In acknowledgement of that, they announced yesterday further administrative easements to assist businesses challenged by this issue.

To return to the company in question, which Deputy Cowen highlighted, Enterprise Ireland supports to help businesses get Brexit ready are available to it. Enterprise Ireland and the Revenue Commissioners are engaging with the company. With regard to any company trading with the UK that is experiencing difficulty, not just the one in question,

the Revenue Commissioners have a 24-7 helpline in operation. They have staff at both Dublin and Rosslare ports 24-7. There is assistance available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at both ports. Enterprise Ireland has a number of supports that are still available to ensure businesses get every support they possibly can to overcome the challenges that have arisen owing to Brexit, which challenges were not of our doing but which we are left to deal with.

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