The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners has distanced the agency from speculation that customs posts are being reinstated at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Questions have been raised about recent refurbishment work at three former customs posts in Donegal, namely Bridgend, Lifford and Pettigo-Belleek.
Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty recently asked Revenue chairman Niall Cody about the works at a recent parliamentary committee on Brexit.
Mr Cody replied: “I can tell you and your constituents we are not involved in the cleaning up of any facilities for border posts.”
He added: “We are not planning for customs posts. The government has indicated that in the event of no deal, it will engage in intensive discussions with the EU Commission and our EU partners and Revenue will provide whatever technical expertise and assistance may be required during this process.”
Mr Cody said Revenue did not have the facility to secretly fund customs arrangements, but he did not rule out the agency being part of the border checks in the future.
Mr Cody said Revenue could withstand a no-deal scenario and it would implement the EU customs code. He told the committee that Revenue was planning for customs checks to be carried out on traders’ premises rather than at the border. Over 400 additional staff are set to be put in place by the end of March to deal with Brexit measures.
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