Mr. Frank Gleeson:

I agree with Senator Mary White that a whole-of-government approach is needed. I am delighted that we are discussing the issue. This is a huge step forward because it would not have been discussed six months ago. It is good that the report was produced and that people in government are taking an interest, as we need cross-departmental support and some champions. The jobs agenda is a major one. Some 50,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector and we would like to have some of them back.

There are a number of recommendations in the report that would be self-financing. When I speak to the Garda or customs officials, with whom we work closely, who work tirelessly on the ground, they would say in other jurisdictions more resources are put into these types of activities in recessionary times because they know people move to the black market.