Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. The then Department responsible for the marine proposed in 2005 that there would be a register for certain small craft. The Revenue Commissioners wrote to the Minister's Department last October stating they were deeply concerned about this issue and referring to coastal smuggling, in particular drug smuggling. Deputies Flanagan and Ring will deal with the drug aspects of this issue for my party.

As I understand it, Revenue has just one boat with which to police drug smugglers and much of its work is based on intelligence it receives. We are not talking about small power boats or rowing boats but about craft with the capacity to operate some distance out to sea. Is it not the case that the drug seizures made represent the tip of the iceberg? We welcome the seizures made in Cork last year but if all the craft capable of smuggling drugs are not registered and if the Minister does not act in line with the proposal made by his Department almost four years ago, we will not get to grips with the problem.

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