Irish exports face Tunnel travel ban

IRISH exporters face being banned from using the Channel Tunnel and rail connections to continental markets unless a system for security clearance is introduced within three weeks.

If security clearance arrangements acceptable to the British government are not in place by then, containers of Irish exports will not be allowed access to the Channel Tunnel. Many millions of pounds worth of Irish exports would be affected.

Last night the Department of the Marine, which has been dealing with the issue for two years, insisted that "the matter will now be resolved".

"We are confident we will find a solution," a spokeswoman said.

However, talks between Government Departments have so far failed to establish who is responsible for setting up a security vetting system which would be endorsed by the Government and acceptable to the British authorities. The Department of the Marine insisted last night that bit is not a Marine issue

But the spokeswoman said the department was now prepared to pursue the matter with a view to resolving it". This would involve talks with other Government departments including the Departments of Transport and Justice and the British authorities, she said. But the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications said last night that it had no function in relation to security matters or in the area of exports".

The British company which has been providing an interim security checking service at Liverpool for Irish container exports has given notice that it would cease its service on November 7th. Rail Freight Distributors (RFD) has provided the service on an ad hoc basis to Irish shippers and freight forwarders. It agreed to provide the service pending the agreement of security clearance arrangements.

The company, which specialises in freight distribution, found the service costly to implement.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport in Britain said last night that it had told the Government many months ago" that a security system must be set up in Ireland to mirror the system in Britain for exports through the Channel Tunnel. "We cannot accept goods for transport through the tunnel unless the security arrangements are met," he warned.

The type of security arrangements required involve a full audit of the exporter's premises and manufacturing process to establish possible risks, such as the extent of access to the goods and the container. This check must be carried out by qualified security personnel who are approved by the Government to carry out the work.

The Irish Exporters' Association last night criticised the Government Departments, arguing that they had displayed "a classic case of buck passing".

Two years of attempts to resolve security issues on Irish exports bound for Europe will end with Irish goods being excluded from the Channel Tunnel from November 7th, according to the Irish Exporters' Association. It called for the immediate establishment of a reciprocal security agreement between the Irish and British governments.

Wicklow based transport company Intel has invested heavily in special transferable containers to export Irish goods through the Channel Tunnel and on to European rail networks. A spokesman expressed concern yesterday that this route could be closed.

"We have made a very heavy investment to provide a fast service with little road usage in line with European Union criteria. We have invested in making it work for Irish exporters," he said.