Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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566. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has met with his UK counterpart to discuss the Port of Dover and the threat that Brexit poses to Irish-EU trade via the land bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5549/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have not met with Dover Port officials as it would be inappropriate in light of ongoing Brexit negotiations.

I have, however, met my UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling on Brexit matters on three occasions over the past 20 months.

In relation to the most recent meeting of 8 November, the parameters of the discussion were clearly communicated to the Secretary of State in advance, in particular the need to fully respect the mandate of the EU’s Chief Negotiator in negotiating for the EU 27 and that the discussion could not stray into the area of negotiations.

At that meeting, I set out the importance of continued transport connectivity between Ireland and to the UK, highlighting the importance of the UK landbridge for Ireland as a route to European markets, and the need for Irish trade to move efficiently through ports.

Disruption on the Dover – Calais maritime link could considerably disrupt hauliers and the estimated €21 billion of trade that crosses between Ireland and Europe via the UK landbridge, much of it travelling via the Dover-Calais link.

Last month, I briefed my colleagues in Government on the existing maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the landbridge. However, the landbridge is, as the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) has found in its study into the implications of Brexit on the use of the landbridge, a strategically important route to market for many Irish importers and exporters, including but not limited to agrifood, seafood and other sectors trading in time sensitive produce. These sectors would be particularly adversely affected by any deterioration in transit times at UK or continental EU ports or increases in costs particularly in a no-deal scenario, and these sectors may not be able to opt for the direct maritime routes to the continent, given the longer journey times involved.

Irish officials have also met with French counterparts to discuss how Irish trucks can move through French ports after transiting through the UK. I also met French Transport Minister Borne on Brexit matters in November. My Department – through its own work and through participation in the Landbridge Project Group chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – continues to monitor the extent to which Government agencies at the port of Calais in particular are stepping up preparedness for checks on products from and flowing through the UK, which is critical for products that need the time advantage offered by the landbridge.

Ireland is also working with the European Commission and other affected Member States (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden) regarding preparation of EU ports to facilitate the transit of EU products through the UK, using EU rules on internal transit set out under the Union’s Custom Code. This work is intensifying and progress is being made. However, there may be bottlenecks or congestion at ports in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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567. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials have had meetings with officials from Dover Port in an effort to address or mitigate against delays that may arise as a consequence of a hard or no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5550/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Neither I nor my officials have met with officials from Dover Port as it would be inappropriate in light of ongoing negotiations.

I have, however, met my UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling on Brexit matters on three occasions over the past 20 months.

In relation to the most recent meeting of 8 November, the parameters of the discussion were clearly communicated to the Secretary of State in advance, in particular the need to fully respect the mandate of the EU’s Chief Negotiator in negotiating for the EU 27 and that the discussion could not stray into the area of negotiations.

At that meeting, I set out the importance of continued transport connectivity between Ireland and to the UK, highlighting the importance of the UK landbridge for Ireland as a route to European markets, and the need for Irish trade to move efficiently through ports.

Disruption on the Dover – Calais maritime link could considerably disrupt hauliers and the estimated €21 billion of trade that crosses between Ireland and Europe via the UK landbridge, much of it travelling via the Dover-Calais link.

Last month, I briefed my colleagues in Government on the existing maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the landbridge. However, the landbridge is, as the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) has found in its study into the implications of Brexit on the use of the landbridge, a strategically important route to market for many Irish importers and exporters, including but not limited to agrifood, seafood and other sectors trading in time sensitive produce. These sectors would be particularly adversely affected by any deterioration in transit times at UK or continental EU ports or increases in costs particularly in a no-deal scenario, and these sectors may not be able to opt for the direct maritime routes to the continent, given the longer journey times involved.

Irish officials have also met with French counterparts to discuss how Irish trucks can move through French ports after transiting through the UK. I also met French Transport Minister Borne on Brexit matters in November. My Department – through its own work and through participation in the Landbridge Project Group chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – continues to monitor the extent to which Government agencies at the port of Calais in particular are stepping up preparedness for checks on products from and flowing through the UK, which is critical for products that need the time advantage offered by the landbridge.

Ireland is also working with the European Commission and other affected Member States (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden) regarding preparation of EU ports to facilitate the transit of EU products through the UK, using EU rules on internal transit set out under the Union’s Custom Code. This work is intensifying and progress is being made. However, there may be bottlenecks or congestion at ports in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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568. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take in the coming weeks to alert small to medium size hauliers and haulage companies to the implications of Brexit and the preparations they need to make for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5551/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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On Monday 21st January, my Department hosted a Freight Forum with stakeholders from the freight and maritime sectors, including industry representative bodies in haulage, to inform them of the latest Brexit developments. My Department along with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture addressed the group, stressing the importance of attendees disseminating the information provided as widely as possible. Similarly, a number of Departmental officials took part in a Brexit seminar for local Chambers of Commerce hosted by Chambers Ireland on January 10th, so that local chambers could in turn brief their members on developments. I also met the Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) on Tuesday 29th January. My Department continues to work with the industry representative bodies to keep hauliers and enterprises informed of developments and prospects, as indeed is our long-established practice. We will continue to update the information on the Department’s website as further developments arise.