President of the Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA) Eugene Drennan has warned that disruption at ports could lead to shortages. He said that Brexit preparations and courses run by Revenue and others had not adequately prepared companies and exporters.
President of the Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA) Eugene Drennan has warned that disruption at ports could lead to shortages.
He said that Brexit preparations and courses run by Revenue and others had not adequately prepared companies and exporters.
“Things are very bad,” he said.
“The English system is not talking to the Irish system and people are blocked up all over the place.
“People have come back empty from Holyhead, even though it’s costing them, rather than stay stuck over there.
Our supply lines are in trouble and Ireland is going to run out of goods
“People’s own computers can’t talk to Revenue computers and if you think it’s bad this week, wait until next week when stockpiles start being used up.
“Our supply lines are in trouble and Ireland is going to run out of goods.”
Revenue introduced an updated system overnight and ferry company Stena Line has welcomed this change, but Drennan said it remained to be seen what impact it would have.
Drennan also said that part of the issue was that Ireland was being "over zealous" in guarding its ports, as it is considered "the back door" into Europe.
Many supermarkets already appear to have experienced some shortages, with empty shelves in M&S and other stores. However, part of this could be a knock-on effect of COVID-19 buying habits in lockdown, when people tend to stockpile goods at home.
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