Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I welcome the agreement that has been reached in respect of the Council decision on the use of information technology for customs purposes. This decision will lead to the various member states of the European Union coming together to use the best technology possible in order to combat the type of smuggling that has become more high profile in recent years.

The Minister of State referred to recent seizures of cigarettes and drugs off our coasts. However, the south-west coast appears to be extremely vulnerable with regard to the smuggling of drugs. Ships are able to drop large quantities of illegal materials some miles off the south-west coast where they can be picked up by locals interested in seeing to it that they reach the Irish market. There is a considerable amount of work to be done in respect of this part of the coast. I accept that it is not easy to police it. Some fishermen who used to provide intelligence to the authorities are not as co-operative as previously because they were adversely affected by legislation that was introduced in recent times. The various peninsulas located in Cork and Kerry appear to make the coastline there particularly vulnerable in the context of illegal activities. I accept that the technology to which this decision relates will be used but perhaps the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform might consider introducing further technology, in the context of the legislation necessary to implement the decision before 27 May 2010, to assist in combating the type of smuggling to which I refer.

There is evidence of a significant increase in the amount of coal being smuggled into this jurisdiction from Scotland and elsewhere. Perhaps this matter might be contemplated by the tax and excise provisions - particularly as they relate to a carbon tax - that will be contained in the budget to be introduced on 9 December by the Minister for Finance. There is a need to monitor the increase in the type of illegal activity to which I refer and to take action in respect of it.

Will the Minister of State indicate where Ireland's terminals relating to the CIS system are located? How many people are involved in their operation? Is the information gathered here through the system expected to be used in court cases? What is the status of such information in the context of its being used to assist in apprehending those involved in smuggling rings? Is the CIS linked to the US system? What level of co-operation exists between the EU and the US with regard to dealing with many of the issues to which the Minister of State referred?

I welcome the fact that there is co-operation among EU member states. The Council's decision will certainly underpin this co-operation. However, there is a need to go beyond that. Is it possible that an agreement might be reached between the EU and the US in order that information might be shared and the high profile and highly illegal smuggling of drugs, cigarettes and solid fuel might be stamped out? Such an agreement would allow the European Union to co-operate more fully with other continents to ensure that the Irish Exchequer and Irish businesses do not operate at a disadvantage as contraband cigarettes and other products are placed on the market at very low prices which makes a huge contribution to the loss of finance to the Exchequer and to losses for businesses as they have to compete with this activity on our streets.

I welcome this opportunity to support the Council decision and I welcome the intentions of the Minister of State, as outlined in his contribution, to implement this in Irish law prior to May 2010.

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