Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Finance if concerns will be addressed that new Irish customs arrangements regarding the importation of goods from the UK have considerably increased the levels of bureaucratisation in relation to the importation process; if he will work to simplify the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7890/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, since 1 January 2021 the UK has been outside the European Union's Single Market and Customs Union. This means that for the purposes of trade and the movement of goods between the EU and the UK, the UK is now a 3rd country and therefore a range of customs formalities and other regulatory controls apply to goods moving to, from or through the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

Customs is an EU competence and Ireland, like all EU Member States, must implement import requirements as set out in the Union Customs Code (UCC), the legal framework for customs rules and procedures in the EU customs territory. Compliance with these rules are essential to maintaining the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union. Deficiencies in Ireland’s implementation of the relevant regulatory controls and requirements could have serious consequences for exports from Ireland and their automatic right of free circulation within the European Union.

I know that Revenue fully understands and appreciates that some businesses have experienced and continue to experience difficulties adjusting to the need to comply with the new customs and other regulatory formalities that now apply to trade with Great Britain. Revenue has been working closely with trade both at individual business level and with the range of trade and business representative bodies in order to assist them in meeting the challenges which the UK’s departure from the EU has brought for Irish businesses. Revenue also has a 24/7 presence at Dublin and Rosslare ports and help is also available via the Customs 24/7 telephone helpline (01 738 3685) and via email helpline channels. As part of this active engagement with business Revenue continues to explore with business the opportunities to avail of certain simplifications and facilitations that are available in accordance with the UCC.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has also provided a range of supports to assist businesses in adapting to the new formalities and procedures that are now in place, including the Ready for Customs Grant scheme and the Clear Customs training programme which are particularly relevant to the challenges referred to by the Deputy.

Finally, I think it is important to note that approx. 75% of all freight movements during January were green routed and permitted to leave the ports without any interaction with Customs or the other regulatory authorities. However, as Great Britain is now a 3rd country, and goods traded with them are subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks, checks that are essential to public health and safety, it will never be possible for all goods movement arriving into Ireland from Great Britain to be green routed. There will always be a level of documentary or physical examination of goods movements required as part of Ireland’s obligation to protect the Single Market and the Customs Union and the same applies to all other EU Member States importing goods from the UK.