Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)

My issue is substantially the same. I am glad to hear the Minister of State state that the Customs and Excise cover is now being reviewed. The local Independent Deputy for the Weston area, however, Deputy Catherine Murphy, who is present, raised this issue with the Minister on Question Time in February this year. In the reply on that occasion, the Minister accepted that customs officers should visit the aerodrome regularly as a check against the landing or exploitation of prohibitive goods, in particular controlled drugs, but it did not happen. It is now water under the bridge, but I hope the Minister will be somewhat more attentive when these issues are raised in the future.

I note that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in his reply on behalf of the Minister for Finance, said that the total value of drugs that came into Dublin Airport in one year which were seized came to €6.7 million. Despite this, one flight to Weston yesterday could have brought in €10 million worth of the worst of drugs, heroin. It is no wonder that licence cover should now be reviewed. This is in the context of the seizure of a consignment of heroin valued at €7 million at Ratoath, County Meath, a couple of months ago. These amounts of heroin are unprecedented in the history of the drugs crisis in this State. It seems to be in the context of the enormous heroin crop in Afghanistan in recent times. Whatever happened via Weston when the Belgian authorities were able to seize the drugs demonstrates the sophisticated level the international drugs trade has reached. Unfortunately, the replies to Deputy Catherine Murphy in this House indicate that this State has not reached the same sophisticated level in response to these issues. I hope to heaven that it does respond effectively.

One other aspect of this concerns me. Apparently an executive jet with half a dozen people on board or whatever can land at Weston and they can just step into a taxi on the tarmac and drive off. That is quite incredible in this day and age. There is no check by the Garda or Customs and Excise or anybody. We know the owners of Weston have not got a great record in terms of their respect for the law of this land. I am not sure why the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, finds this so amusing. I do not find it amusing. Neither do I believe does Deputy Catherine Murphy, who has raised this issue for a long time, find it amusing.

The reality is that this plane was owned by Mr. Mansfield. It came——--

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