James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Ireland's plans to ensure an effective landbridge for Irish agriculture in the aftermath of Brexit to the European market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38192/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Post transition, operators will still be able to move goods across the UK Landbridge but the way they use the Landbridge will change.

The UK's accession to the Common Transit Convention (CTC) is welcome. It allows EU goods to move under transit through Great Britain without undergoing full import and export formalities on entry and exit. However, to avail of the benefits of the Convention, a number of new administrative steps must be completed in Ireland, Great Britain and at the port of re-entry. Details of all these new steps can be found at GOV.IE/Brexit. Furthermore, each consignment must also have a financial guarantee during the movement.

Under Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625, a range of goods, including animals and products of animal origin (POAO), are subject to controls on re-entering the Union and must be prior-notified to the Border Control Post (BCP) of re-entry to the EU ahead of arrival.

Ireland has undertaken substantial engagements at political and official level across the EU to ensure EU goods moving under transit are not subject to additional and unnecessary checks and controls. In particular, we have worked with our French, Belgian and Dutch counterparts to understand each other’s BCP operations.

For the vast majority of consignments transiting the Landbridge, documentary checks will be performed electronically in advance of the consignment re-entering the EU, and once the correct paperwork is in place transit goods should be “green-routed” to leave the Port. Identity and physical checks will only be necessary where the authorities suspect non-compliance. It is therefore vital that operators have the correct administration work in place.

We have regularly noted the likelihood of delays in UK ports for some time now and operators should plan accordingly.

Operators may wish to look at direct route options. The process for moving goods directly between Ireland and other EU Member States will not change nor be subject to the new procedures set out on our website.