‘No hiccups at ports’ as new Brexit rules come into force

THERE is a slow but steady build-up of freight movements between Britain and Ireland as post-Brexit rules come into force, a Dublin Port official has said.

Tom Talbot, head of customs operations for Dublin Port, said they are still seeing very low levels of trade because of the time of year.

He added that there was a ‘smooth flow’ of traffic despite the bedlam that Brexit critics had warned of when the new measures kicked in.

Speaking on the fourth day of the new rules that came into action on Friday, Mr Talbot said: ‘This has provided a good opportunity for ourselves, for trade, for business to build familiarity with the system, with new procedures.

‘It allows firms to build familiarity with procedures that apply to trade and new trade with Great Britain and the arrangements that are in place across both Rosslare and in Dublin Port.

‘Even for businesses that are familiar for a number of years with dealing with third-country trade, the fact that this trade never arises on roll-on and rolloff traffic is a new feature.’

He added: ‘We are now into a much more time-sensitive case and this is moving things a little faster.’

Mr Talbot said that customs issues that arise are being resolved as quickly as possible by all agencies, adding that Dublin Port is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

‘That has allowed us to intervene and support trade and business when problems arise,’ he added.

He also urged drivers to check their custom channel, which helps in the transition of traffic.

‘To date there has been really good engagement with both trade and business, and that will continue to ensure that smooth flow, and I am confident that will continue,’ Mr Talbot said.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s EU Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, said there are no reports so far of significant delays at ports as a result of the new Brexit checks that came into force.