Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As we know, the changes to the UK import controls come against the backdrop of the publication by the UK Government last April of its draft border target operating model which will be applicable to imports from all countries into Great Britain, including from the EU. I am struck by its aim to balance the need for effective border controls with the need to support businesses and import processes that are as simple as possible. On these points, I could not agree more. Things should be kept simple, the process needs to be less bureaucratic and we should ensure that import-export procedures, while remaining simple, continue to be robust. The latter is, I accept, a balance that is difficult to achieve.

I certainly want to avoid the extension of the difficulties experienced by our hauliers to farmers and the agricultural export system. I recently highlighted the challenges that hauliers continue to face as the key link in the import-export arena regarding the automated import system, AIS, and the automated export system, AES. These systems are operated by Revenue and since September hauliers have informed me they have been up and down. The inefficiency of the system is unacceptable. It is causing hauliers delays and costing them money. If the banking system had such inefficiencies, there would be fines. I have raised this issue with many Ministers in this Chamber since September and I really hope that it will be sorted out for the hauliers. I know the Minister of State will take it on board because he has an interest in this area.

According to the hauliers I have spoken to, the AIS and AES are down at an alarming rate. This means that hauliers end up waiting for their cargo to be processed by Revenue's fallback systems before they are allowed to leave the port, which causes huge delays. Not alone is it costing the hauliers and causing delays I would be concerned that it is damaging our reputation in terms of trade. I really hope that they agrifood sector will not experience the same problems.

I am aware that the Department of Foreign Affairs has outlined eight things people need to do in advance of the 31 January implementation date, including familiarising themselves with the UK customs and SPS systems.

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