Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is another reason to tackle this problem. This crime is widespread throughout the country and not only prevalent in a city, on Talbot Street or on any street. The report Mr. Tony Hickey mentioned refers to Meath, Kildare, Waterford city and Limerick. Every county gets a mention when it comes to these reports. What is driving this problem? Is it the current economic situation, was it happening in any event or is organised crime on a roll? I am trying to get my head around the scale of the problem in order that we can focus in on trying to solve it

Mr. Hickey said that there were 23,000 inspections in regard to the sale of tobacco and very few convictions. This is about targeting resources. I am not saying we should not target the sale of tobacco but it is about striking a balance. I read recently there were 2,000 inspections in regard to the sale of eggs and there were more than 700 on compliance in terms of the plastic bag levy. There has to be a cost to all of these inspections. Retailers who have appeared before the committee on numerous occasions have said that they are fed up of red tape and being chased up about the sale of eggs. We need to get real and establish what is the issue. There must be a cost to the carrying out of these inspections. Do the representatives have the figure for costs? If those resources were used in a more balanced way or spread around more areas, perhaps some progress could be made. Are there inspections of markets where many of these products are sold? Mr. Tony Hickey said we inspect the licensed premises but it is the trade in the unlicensed premises we are trying to catch. Are the unlicensed premises inspected? I would welcome Mr. Tony Hickey's comments on that.

On the issue of fuel and a fuel rebate, the transport committee has dealt with this issue as have other committees. A big issue in this context is that farmers are concerned that they could be left waiting for cash. Mr. Frank Gleeson mentioned earlier that we should have a solution to this issue before we would proceed on this. Does he have a solution or how can that problem be eased?

The Road Haulage Association has been working with the cross-departmental group and the finance group to secure a rebate on their fuel costs. It would claim in its report, and I read through it, that there are massive savings to be made. It can show that less money would be spent abroad legitimately and that its members would buy their fuel here if there was a rebate facility in place. It would be a self-financing measure and that it would result in there being more jobs and more taxes would be paid. Would Mr. Frank Gleeson back up that claim and does he believe it is right? Has he a view on it from his own position rather than from the position of Retail Ireland? I would like to hear his thoughts on that. Those are my questions and I might ask some more later.