Mattie McGrath: Demands Simplified Brexit Rules to End Port Delays
Mattie McGrath warned of severe Brexit teething problems for hauliers, car importers and ports and urged officials to simplify a 300-page customs document. He called on the Minister of Finance, the Head of Revenue and the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to intervene to stop delays and confusion at ports.
Concerns from hauliers and importers
Drivers, private haulage companies and car importers have reported lengthy delays and uncertainty since 1 January. McGrath said Revenue staff cannot clearly explain why import duty and point-of-entry charges must be paid under the current 300-page document, and raised the example of VRT - cars normally pay VRT when sold and registered and he argued the same process should apply now.
Operational problems at ports
He warned drivers of trucks are being held up for 24 to 48 hours and called this totally unfair to them. McGrath highlighted complications when multiple garages' cars arrive on one load - if only one buyer can pay immediately, paperwork and registration create further delays - and said the problems affect cars, repackaged food and other goods.
Call for simplified documentation and direct action
McGrath urged simplification of the customs documentation and asked for direct involvement from the Minister of Finance, the Head of Revenue and the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to provide clarity and stop the chaos at ports.
Government response on the new trading reality
In response, the minister acknowledged daily Brexit-related problems but said not all are merely teething issues. The minister stated Britain has left the single market and the customs union, that frictionless trade with Britain is over, and that checks, charges, controls and paperwork are now the new reality; officials will try to minimise disruption but cannot eliminate it entirely.
Local jobs affected - Wilker auto conversions
McGrath cited Wilker auto conversions in Offaly, where staff face a temporary layoff of about three weeks due to Brexit-related supply issues. He said Enterprise Ireland and the minister's department are reaching out to the company, that the three-week layoff is the worst-case scenario and that employees are expected to be rehired after that period.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Tanaiste, we all expected teething problems when the 1st January we came in regards to Brexit. The Irish old hauliers and indeed many private haulage companies and car importers have been on to me and been on to many politicians as well. Because there are nominees in the 300 page document and nobody in Revenue and doing their best can answer people as to why they must pay the import duty and the pint of entry. Here at the 400 begin cars they pay the VRT when they sell them and register them and that should be done now with this as well. Drivers of trucks are actually being held up sometimes for 24 and 48 hours and it's totally unfair to them, they're innocent here. If the cars for four or five garages are under one load, maybe one has the money in the account to pay whatever, they will have to pay it later on because it's registered, documented. So we need to have this document as simplified. We need to have the Minister of Finance, Head of Revenue and the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to deal with this. To give clarity and to stop the chaos at the ports. It's affecting all kinds of transport but for cars coming in, cars and repackages like other food and stuff and everything else. So please could you try and get this resolved because it's causing huge... Deputy, please thank you. Over time. Thanks Deputy, I certainly check that out. Every day there's a new problem when it comes to Brexit and there are a lot of teething problems as you say. But I think it's important to admit that they aren't all teething problems. Britain has left the single market and the customs union. Frictionless trade with Britain is over. And checks, charges, controls, paperwork are now the new reality when it comes to trade with Britain. And that was their decision and we regret it but we have to deal with it. And while we will try to minimise disruption for business it won't be possible to eliminate it entirely. I just want to say in relation to Wilker auto conversions and Offaly that they've announced. Staff will be laid off there for about three weeks in relation to supply issues with Brexit. Enterprise Ireland and my department are reaching out to the company today to see if we can help out in any way. But I understand that a three week temporary layoff is the worst case scenario and the employees will be rehired after the three weeks. I'm sorry for that. I don't think so. I don't think so. Just put a secret to me, the one thing I want it. I think so did a lot of things. Just put a secret on the stuff right now. I want to stop moving on. I think so. I think that's the moment it just really gets in on the stuff. I think I got to keep the word out of it anyway. I think so let's do this. I think so. And it's a new one. I think so. We're only going to try to get around the system. I've been trying to get on the stuff next and then. I think so. And I think so much too. And I think that's the purpose of the Tout. And I think so. I think so.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
