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

I will give a flavour of some of the figures that are available. The most recent CSO statistical data released for the first quarter of 2021 show the exports of goods to Great Britain were €3.03 billion, which is a decrease of €82 million, or 3%, on the first quarter in 2020. Exports to the EU were also down 12% on the first quarter 2020 figures. Imports of goods from Great Britain in quarter 1 this year were down 48% to €2.2 billion, compared with quarter 1 in 2020. Imports from the EU were down 6% on quarter 1 2020 figures. It is likely that a number of factors contributed to the large reduction in imports from Great Britain, including the challenges of complying with customs requirements, pre-Brexit stockpiling, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Freight movements into Ireland from Great Britain increased sixfold between the first week in January and the end of May. This is up from 1,423 movements to 8,257 movements.

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