NO NEW CUSTOM POSTS AFTER BREXIT
Tax chief ‘almost 100%’ sure checkpoints will not return
IRELAND’S tax chief is “almost 100% certain” there will be no new customs posts along the Irish border after Brexit.
Revenue Commissioners chairman Niall Cody strongly rejected reports it is actively looking for locations to establish new checkpoints. The speculation, which he blamed on an early contingency paper from a “medium ranking” official, has led to landowners along the border directly offering him sites for sale. But Mr Cody told a parliamentary committee in Dublin: “We are not planning customs posts.” The 520km border between the Republic and the North will become an EU/UK frontier after Britain pulls out of the EU. Opponents fear a hardening of the border, which has become virtually invisible as a result of the peace process, could threaten peace and prosperity on the entire island. However, Mr Cody said an ongoing analysis of cross- border trade increasingly shows most goods transported between the jurisdictions will not need to be physically checked. Much of it is agri-food and construction related and can be documented online. There are also existing Revenue offices in border counties where traders can carry out the necessary paperwork. Referring to a number of the border counties, he said: “I’m practically 100% certain we will not be providing new trade facilitation bays in whatever parts of Donegal, Monaghan or Cavan.” Mr Cody also told the parliamentary committee the Revenue is not negotiating with HM Revenue and Customs in Britain about post-brexit arrangements. He added the agency is assessing all the implications and options while upgrading its IT systems and recruiting more staff as it prepared for the outcome of the political negotiations.