The Government is preparing to hire about 1,000 customs and veterinary inspectors for the country's ports and airports should a no-deal Brexit happen.

The Taoiseach made an official address in Derrynane, Co Kerry, where he stated that the Government is working on being prepared for a no-deal Brexit or a transition period ending in 2020.

We estimate we will have to hire about 1,000 customs and veterinary inspectors to prepare our ports and airports for Brexit

This involves “preparing for and hiring veterinary inspectors to carry out sanitary checks on agricultural products and plant-based products coming in from Britain and also customs inspectors”.

The Taoiseach continued: “We estimate we will have to hire about 1,000 customs and veterinary inspectors to prepare our ports and airports for Brexit.”

In the “unlikely” event of a no-deal Brexit next March, An Taoiseach said that “it will not be possible to have 1,000 people in place”, but that his Government “will make contingency arrangements in the event that might arise”.

He also said that a total of €450m has been set aside for low-interest loans for businesses in the agri food sector.

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No low-cost loans in 2018

Checking imports to the EU at Rotterdam port

Brexit: 1,000 customs and veterinary officers to be hired

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was speaking after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said customs and veterinary officials will have to be hired and money set aside for the agri food sector to prepare for Brexit.