Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The written replies are available. Deputy McNamara raised this issue with me previously, as did other Oireachtas Members in the county. I have also been contacted by Deputies Crowe, Carey and Cannon and Senator Dooley on this issue. It is an issue of concern in the local area.

European legislation aimed at the protection of the European Single Market requires that official controls to verify compliance with the requirements of European Union legislation are carried out at a border control post at the point of first arrival into the European Union. As Deputy McNamara will know, this is critical to protecting and upholding the necessary standards we have in the EU.

Prior to the departure of the UK from the European Union, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine operated three multi-commodity border control posts at Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. In preparation for the departure of the UK, a fourth multi-commodity border control post was constructed at Rosslare Europort. Each of these border control posts play a critical role in ensuring important standards are maintained.

Border control posts must meet certain infrastructural requirements to be designated by the European Commission to handle the different categories of live animals and animal products. While the border control post at Dublin Airport was being expanded to meet the infrastructural requirements required for the handling of animal products, a temporary arrangement was in place. This saw consignments of animal products landing at Dublin Airport transported to the border control post at Shannon Airport where the necessary controls were carried out.

The construction of the border control post at Dublin Airport was completed in autumn 2020. It became fully operational in July of this year. Those responsible for the importation of commodities requiring checks at border control posts, so-called operators responsible for consignments, RFC, were informed of this development in writing on 8 July. RFCs were reminded that they are obliged by European legislation to ensure that animals and goods requiring official controls at border control posts are presented for controls at the border control post at the point of first arrival. For consignments landing at Dublin Airport, this is the border control post at Dublin Airport. The operationalisation of the expanded border control point at Dublin Airport brings Ireland into full compliance with the requirements of European Union legislation. In no way does the Dublin Airport border control post have implications for the operation of the border control post at Shannon Airport. The border control post at Shannon Airport remains fully operational and ready to process any consignments landing at Shannon Airport.

A case has been made that the movement of products landing at Dublin Airport by road for checks at Shannon Airport meets the definition of transshipment, as provided for in the relevant EU legislation. I have asked senior officials in my Department to arrange a meeting with those making that case to discuss the issue. I will be happy to share the outcome of that meeting with Deputy McNamara and with Deputies Crowe, Carey and Cannon and Senator Dooley. I thank the committed staff at each of the border control posts for upholding our standards and adapting so quickly to the new post-Brexit scenario.

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