Supermarket shelves in Ireland emptying due to post-Brexit paperwork, Dail told

Independent TD Verona Murphy said there has been “utter disruption” in the supply chain since the end of the transition period, with truck drivers being stuck in ports for up to five days.

The former head of the Irish Road Haulage Association warned businesses are being damaged and that further jobs will be lost in the coming weeks.

Around 30% of goods moving from Great Britain to Dublin are being held back over issues around documentation, with some requiring further checks, Irish officials have said.

Trade volumes continue to be low in comparison with trade levels in previous years.

Ms Murphy told the Dail: “Utter disruption has ensued since January 1 at ports, in businesses, and in the supply chain.”

“Food is being destroyed, businesses are failing, jobs are and will be lost,” she added.

“The consumer will pay a hefty price in their shopping basket if this is to continue, particularly those on low incomes.”

She said last year customs dealt with two million declarations and now they expect to deal with 20 million declarations.

“That’s 54,794, a day,” she added. “And if you add to that the ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) and the PBN (Pre-Boarding Notification) declarations that figure trebles to 164,382 computer entries daily.

“There are only 500 customs and excise staff. It’s currently taking four hours to do one declaration. And that’s why the boats to the UK are empty. That’s why the shipping routes to Fishguard are cancelled. And that’s why our shelves are emptying.”

Ms Murphy claimed the Revenue’s system has failed twice, adding: “That has seen foodstuffs going rotten in trailers, it has kept drivers away from their families sitting in ports for up to five days.”

She described the Department of Agriculture’s sanitary and phytosanitary checks as another “utter mess” requiring 24-hour notice.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Brexit essentially meant that seamless trade between the European Union and Great Britain is “a thing of the past”.

“That is a reality and there will be delays at ports because importing goods from Britain is now much more complex,” he said.

Food is being destroyed, businesses are failing, jobs are and will be lost

Verona Murphy, TD

“The UK has left the single market and customs union and that creates additional burdens. There’s also some evidence emerging that many UK companies were not as prepared as they could have been to the realities of Brexit and the various additional checks and controls.”

He said Irish agencies were working “flat out” to ensure checks and controls were carried out as efficiently as possible, with over 1,500 additional staff working on customs.

The Taoiseach said hundreds of containers were going through customs every day and the numbers were gradually increasing.

In response, Ms Murphy said the only reality people will face with Brexit is a 50% increase in the cost of their shopping basket.

She added more boats were needed and antigen testing was also required at the ports.

Thousands of trucks have passed through Dublin Port in the last two weeks under new trade rules following the end of the Brexit transition period.

On Tuesday, Tom Talbot, head of the Revenue’s customs operations for Dublin Port, said the difference in experience at ports for those who prepared for Brexit, compared with those who did not, is “quite stark”.

He added that they have not reached capacity, but that volumes have been rising steadily to around 600 movements a day.

About 70% of freight movements received immediate clearance from customs, with the rest being labelled as orange or red, which require further checks on documentation from hauliers.