Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I have raised this issue with the Minister before. The country is being swamped by drugs, particularly my constituency, which is adjacent to Weston Aerodrome. It is unfortunate that such remarkable loss of life is associated with drug crime and the easy availability of drugs. Has the Minister for Finance given any thought to what the reform might entail? He previously told us there had been 12 scheduled and six unscheduled visits to Weston Aerodrome in a year. Will he make them all unscheduled? As matters stand, the strong suggestion is that one could smuggle anything through certain of Ireland's private airports, be it drugs, guns or even human beings.

Does the Minister not feel, given the threat the country faces from drug crime, which is fuelling gun crime, that the Revenue Commissioners must act more expeditiously? For instance, have they initiated any additional visits to Weston Aerodrome since a significant drugs haul was made on a flight originating there? In the course of the Revenue's review, has it carried out any additional checks or visits to private airports around the country?

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