Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there should be no need for panic buying in Ireland and the country can avoid supply chain issues like what is happening in the UK.
Mr Martin was speaking to reporters at Rosslare Habour and said Ireland’s Brexit preparations have worked to avoid such scenarios.
He said: “I think look, we're steady as she goes and as far as we're concerned, we're not getting the same impacts as are currently happening in the UK.”
Chaotic scenes in the UK have shown the public panic buying fuel for their cars as there is an estimated shortage of more than 100,000 HGV drivers to transport goods.
The lack of drivers has caused problems for a range of industries - from supermarkets to fast food chains.
When asked if Ireland can avoid a scenario similar to what is occurring in the UK in the run up to Christmas, the Taoiseach was confident it would not happen here.
He said: “Yes, that is our ambition, that is our determination, yes we can.
“There's no doubt that the bounce back of the European economy and the global economy in terms of Covid-19 has created a whole lot of disruption to supply chains.
“So to be fair to everybody there’s a broader issue than just Brexit but I think the Brexit situation has exacerbated the situation in the UK, in terms of personnel for HGV drivers, and so on and indeed other sectors of the UK economy.
“We don't have that sort of issue here.
“I think the migration issue within the UK, the decisions to, for example, create obstacles and barriers to people coming from Europe to work in the UK is a factor across the board, we don't have that here.
“But what is important is we take nothing for granted, and so in terms of the Technological University here that will come and now WIT and Carlow and, you know, programmes and courses for HGV drivers and haulage industry more generally..we need additionality in the provision of such courses and programmes, and we need to be flexible in terms of people coming in to Ireland who want to work in this sector.”
