Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delay in publishing the report by the Maritime Development Office and his Department into the use of the UK landbridge by importers and exporters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45627/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In my reply to a similar question by the Deputy in September, I informed the Deputy that the study had taken longer than originally anticipated, as it has proven more complex than initially envisaged, and that it was being finalised with the intention of publishing in the coming weeks. I am informed that the study is now finalised, is at the printers and will be published by the IMDO before the end of this week.

This is a very important study as the landbridge is our fastest shipping route to continental Europe and as such is heavily relied upon for the transport of time-sensitive products, such as those in the agrifood and perishable goods sector, as well as for just-in-time and high value goods. Any delays or barriers to this route to European and other markets could potentially be detrimental for certain sectors. This is a significant area of uncertainty for Ireland that could have a major impact on the capacity and efficiency of trade routes to the continent.

Shipping companies are already making provision for larger vessels with extra capacity on direct routes to continental Europe and we have seen new routes emerging, such as Cork - Santander. However, the UK is and will continue to be a key trading partner for us and we need to minimise any potential disruption to UK trade at our ports and we need to ensure that we can continue to use the landbridge as a route to other markets.

As the Tánaiste has highlighted previously, the Government’s contingency planning for Brexit has from the start included the use of the landbridge and how we can continue to use this after the UK has left the EU. In addition to the IMDO’s study, we are working on this matter with our colleagues across all relevant Government Departments, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and including the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine, Department of Health, and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Work on is being taken forward in two strands. The first is through the Article 50 negotiations. In the mandate provided to the European Commission by the EU27 in May 2017, it was agreed that the Withdrawal Agreement will take account of Ireland’s unique geographic situation, including the transit of goods (to and from Ireland via the UK). The need to address this issue as part of the distinct strand of the negotiations on Irish specific issues was agreed between the EU and the UK in the Joint Progress report of December 2017.

The second strand is Ireland’s work with the European Commission and other affected Member States (namely Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden) with a view to examining the potential of EU ports to facilitate the transit of EU products through the UK once it becomes a third country through the use of EU rules on internal transit set out under the Union’s Custom Code. This work is intensifying and good progress is being made.

As with all relevant Government Departments and agencies, my Department is continuing its contingency planning for Brexit, both for an orderly and a disorderly Brexit. In order to mitigate the risks arising for transport and tourism, we are working with our agencies, our colleagues across Government and with the European Commission.

Of course, our work on the landbridge also includes preparing for the possibility of a no-deal outcome. All relevant Departments are engaged in planning for a disorderly UK exit from the EU, and the Government has already approved a number of key Brexit preparedness measures focused on East-West trade which will also take account of the continued use of the landbridge. We are working closely with our main ports and airports and with the OPW, the Revenue Commissioners, the Departments of Agriculture and Health, and other agencies, in planning the necessary State facilities that will be required in our main ports and airports following Brexit.