Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy Leader for chairing our Brexit committee. For all my colleagues, it has been a very useful and informative engagement. I thank the Minister and the Department officials for their work.

One issue we all felt was important, and I am sure the Minister will appreciate it, is that in the past on the fringes of EU summits, it was always possible for Irish Ministers and UK Ministers to engage but that opportunity is no longer there. It is really important that those links, whereby there is engagement not just between Dublin and London but between Dublin and Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh, continue.

The Chair of our committee outlined some of the issues we covered, including the rules of origin issue. There is one other issue, which is very important. An issue we need to address is around flour and the importance of trying to produce flour in this country rather than having to rely on its importation.

I want to focus on two areas. One area is around the data adequacy decisions. When I started talking about it, a few eyes glazed over, but the question of data transfer is hugely important. As Members know, the EU has agreed that the data transfer regime with the UK currently is adequate and that it is subject, under the normal course of events, to review in a couple of years. There is, however, a serious problem. The UK Government yesterday decided to publish a consultation document with regard to its own data protection laws. If it moves significantly away from the GDPR regime with which we are familiar, then that will cause a significant problem. If the legislation the UK Government brings forward to replace GDPR is seen as not being compatible with GDPR, then the European Commission will have no option but to suspend or terminate the adequacy decision concerning data flows into the UK from the European Union. That has very serious consequences.

People might think it only affects big multinational companies, but it could affect a small business in Monaghan whose payroll is done in Armagh. There will be obligations placed on those companies. The UK Government is conducting its consultation at present. For a variety of reasons around the importance of and believing in a citizen's right to data privacy, I would hope that the UK does not make significant changes in that area. However, it has very significant consequences for business here. When asked to cost it, the Data Protection Commissioner informed our committee that it could cost up to €1 billion in additional costs for businesses in this country if there is not a data adequacy decision concerning the flows from the UK.

The other issue I will briefly mention is Rosslare. We engaged with the ports and I am glad to say Rosslare is booming. There are far more direct sailings, although the concentration has been on freight. We are going to look at attracting many more tourists through Rosslare, hopefully from next year. One issue of concern is that that has obviously required additional staffing in Rosslare. An issue for the Garda is that the Wexford division is required to provide the staffing in Rosslare. Given the added importance of Rosslare, the fact we are going to have phytosanitary inspections and so on, we must ensure we have an adequate number of staff at our ports and airports, but particularly in Rosslare given how rapidly the port is growing.