Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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111. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of individual packages refused entry to Ireland due to a lack of a valid customs declaration form or electronic customs declaration form for each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the percentage the refused packages constituted of the total number of packages handled by customs for each of these years. [47751/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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112. To ask the Minister for Finance the total number of foreign postal services that have registered to use the automated import system to date (details supplied), which will enable them to register electronic customs declaration forms on behalf of customers; and the names of these foreign postal services. [47752/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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113. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is concerned Irish citizens living or travelling in countries whose postal services have failed to register on the automated import system will be prevented from sending parcels of any kind to Ireland; and the way this may shut off Ireland from the global postal system. [47753/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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114. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps 'an individual can take to send items to Ireland if they are posting such items from countries whose postal services have yet to register on the automated import system; and if he is concerned at the risk of Ireland developing a reputation that is unfriendly to international business and trade. [47754/22]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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115. To ask the Minister for Finance if any foreign postal service has refused to register for the automated import system to date; and if he will provide the identities of these postal services. [47755/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 115, inclusive, together.

Revenue, as Ireland’s Tax and Customs administration, is responsible for managing the importation and exportation of goods in accordance with the Union Customs Code and relevant national legislation and this includes goods being imported through the postal system.

I am advised by Revenue that across the EU, electronic customs import declarations are required for all parcels and packages coming from non-EU countries, regardless of the value of the goods being sent. In respect of goods coming through the postal system, the data required to complete the electronic import declaration is normally supplied by the postal operator in the country of export and the Irish postal operator submits an electronic import declaration on behalf of the relevant Irish importer, in each instance. The postal operator in the country of export does not have to register in Ireland and does not have to lodge customs declarations in Ireland. Their role is to gather the necessary data about each package or parcel and provide this electronically to the Irish postal operator.

I am further advised by Revenue that where the Irish postal operator does not have the necessary information to complete an electronic import declaration, it may contact the exporting party in the relevant third country or the importer in Ireland for the necessary information to complete the declaration. Alternatively, where sufficient information to complete the customs declaration in not available, the Irish postal operator may choose to return the goods to the sender. It is entirely a commercial decision for the Irish postal operator to determine, based on its business model, how to deal with instances where it does not have the data or perhaps cannot acquire the data needed to complete the necessary customs declaration.

In the foregoing context, individuals and businesses located in non-EU countries wishing to send items via the postal network should ensure they provide all the relevant data required by the exporting postal operator. This includes, but is not limited to, a detailed and concise description of the goods, the relevant Customs commodity code, if known, of the items within the consignment as well as the value of each item. Some exporting postal operators provide electronic tools to assist the exporter in providing this information.

The Deputy should be aware that the rules relating to parcel and postal operators are common across the EU and apply in all Member States. I am advised by Revenue that postal operators worldwide are aware of the EU Customs requirements and of the importance of providing to EU postal operators, including the Irish postal operator, the necessary information so that EU citizens, including Irish citizens, can receive parcels conveyed via the global postal system.

Finally, I am advised by Revenue that the statistics the Deputy requested relating to parcels received without a valid electronic customs declaration are not available to Revenue. Such data is a matter for the Irish postal operator.