Bertie Ahern addressed the Joint Committee Senate and Congress of the Cortes Generales Spain on the issue of the consequences of Brexit

Address by Bertie Ahern to the Joint Committee, Senate and Congress of the Cortes Generales, Spain, on the issue of the Consequences of Brexit. – 11th May 2021

Bertie Ahern addressed the Joint Committee, Senate and Congress of the Cortes Generales, Spain, on the issue of the consequences of Brexit.

Mr. Ahern made the following points.

The Irish Government has been working to prepare for Brexit for several years – with intensive effort across many Departments and Agencies, including legislation, supports for business and other sectors, stakeholder outreach, and widespread public communications to promote readiness. Our total Brexit related expenditure, since the UK referendum on EU membership, is now over €1bn.

  • There has been substantial investment in infrastructure, systems and staffing at Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and Rosslare Port.
  • Direct ferry links with increased capacity including to Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Zeebrugge, Amsterdam, St. Malo, Roscoff and Santander have come on stream and are seeing high demand. A new twice weekly (Ro-Ro) cargo service between Cork and Antwerp is due to begin next month.
  • In February 2020, there were 12 weekly sailings to Northern France. As of April 2021, there are now around 44 sailings to Northern France.