Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I thank Deputy Stanton for the opportunity to discuss the border control post designation at the Port of Cork. I am taking this on behalf of my ministerial colleague, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue.

Currently, Cork Port is a designated border control post for container shipments of wood and wood products only. Inspections of these products take place at the Tivoli container terminal near Cork city. I am advised that it is not possible at present to use this port as an entry point of regulated food products. I understand, however, that my Department has been assessing the feasibility of a limited derogation for certain seasonal low-risk commodities where there is legislative scope to enter outside of a border control post. A temporary derogation to use Cork Port for the import of melons for the 2024 season has been approved by my Department, with communication to stakeholders of the requirements and procedures issued recently. This will hopefully act as a much-needed trade facilitation measure for industry, helping to reduce freight costs and improve the shelf life of produce. However, it should be noted that outside of this temporary derogation, the physical infrastructure required for handling bulk wood products and that required for handling food products is very different.

Between 2015 and 2018, a number of meetings took place between my Department and the Port of Cork. I understand that in December 2018, the port authority advised that it did not intend to pursue the building of a border control post at that time, although it would consider doing so as a second phase of the development. The port authority has since submitted a business case for the building of a border control post that is capable of handling food product. Under the Union customs code, a border control post must be located in a customs-controlled area, necessitating consideration of any business case in this regard to be conducted in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners.

In recent years, following the Brexit referendum and the consequent increased volume of sanitary and phytosanitary official controls, my Department has managed a substantial expansion of our border control infrastructure to meet this demand. This involved a very considerable expansion of border control post infrastructure at Dublin Port, as well as the building of an interim facility at Rosslare Port. Construction of a permanent facility at Rosslare Europort is under way. Border control posts must also be developed, approved and operated in adherence with European regulations. Any change in the designation of Cork Port would ultimately require the endorsement of the Commission.

In determining if a location is viable for the establishment of a border control post, broad consideration and analysis must take place, including an assessment of both the need and the projected economic benefits of same. Consideration must be given to the costs of the establishment of the border control post as well as the longer-term running costs. Further regard must be given to the potential impact on our existing border control posts. A full border control post would also require close collaboration and co-ordination between my Department, Revenue and the HSE. The issue of whether an additional border control post might be required in the Port of Cork remains under consideration. Officials from my Department continue to analyse the requirements for this facility.

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