Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of EORI numbers issued by the Revenue Commissioners in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017, if his Department has estimated the expected demand for additional EORI numbers in response to the challenges of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33290/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of companies with AEO status; if his Department expects demand for AEO status to increase as a result of Brexit; the actions taken by the Revenue Commissioners to anticipate this increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33291/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.

I am informed by Revenue that it issued the following number of Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) numbers:

An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification system) number is a unique number that is valid throughout the EU and is used as a common reference number for interaction with the customs authorities in any Member State.Registration may be done through Revenue’s online service by businesses that are engaged in customs or excise activities, and is not required for normal trading within the EU.  EORI registration does not confer any advantages in itself, but facilitates the registered business in gaining direct access to the EU customs and excise systems.After Brexit, the number of businesses needing to register in order to facilitate continued trade with the UK, will depend on the supply chain model of the business concerned, and on the type of relationship between UK and EU that is negotiated.  For those reasons, Revenue advises that businesses concerned about future trading with the UK should not seek an EORI number at the present time.Revenue is currently engaged with representative bodies to identify business concerns, and when the Brexit process has progressed sufficiently a public campaign, supplemented by direct contact with businesses known to trade with the UK, will ensure that all businesses requiring registration will be accommodated in ample time.

It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the likely increase in the EORI register after Brexit.  The present total stands at 36,058.

There are 136 Economic Operators who currently hold a valid AEO Authorisation.  Many of the current AEOs are major customs agents, forwarding companies or carriers, whose services are used by small or non-specialised traders.  An AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) authorisation allows for simplified customs procedures under agreed protocols, and greatly reduces the need for checks at ports, airports and land borders.  The current AEOs account for well in excess of 80% of trade between Ireland the non-EU countries, and it is very important for simplified trading procedures that the dominant role of AEOs continues after Brexit.However, in the same way that 36,058 EORI traders currently channel the bulk of their trade through 136 AEOs, it is likely that any increase in the number of traders after Brexit require a much smaller increase in AEO numbers.  At the same time, there may be a demand for additional simplifications which will tend to increase AEO requirement.

It is worth restating that the outcome of Article 50 political negotiations cannot be prejudged, and the nature of the future trading relationships between the EU/Ireland and the UK, and, by extension, any customs regime that might apply, will be determined by those negotiations.  It is premature to set out detailed possible solutions and important that technical solutions do not anticipate or drive outcomes at a political level.