Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Is the Minister aware that at Weston and the rest of the other 27 private aerodromes, taxis and limousines can drive right up to the steps of the private plane? People who came to Ireland for the Ryder Cup, particularly Americans, were astonished that there was almost no customs security at these places to guard against people who might wish to flout the law. Is he aware that when planes are subleased, there is no requirement for the owners to be informed or provided with the knowledge of for what their private aircraft are being used?

Is the Minister aware of the current explosion in the availability of drugs throughout Ireland? We had two deaths this weekend in Dublin west, apparently as a result of overdoses. At Dublin Airport, even if one goes through the ministerial gateway, it can take three hours to go through the customs checks where there are even sniffer dogs looking for drugs. However, in the private aerodromes there is nothing bar an e-mail to say the customs may come. Is the Minister satisfied that this kind of supervision is adequate? It leaves the gate wide open. There were 11 visits this year so far and these were notified and planned, with only three unplanned visits. This is an open invitation to any serious drug criminal, many of whom have tens of millions of euro to spend, to use this mechanism to swamp the country with drugs. What does the Minister have to say about this issue?

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