Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to the discussion, I suggest this can be netted down to getting into gear the will to do something about it. Deputy Pearse Doherty is correct that the scale of the contraband or black market is huge. The only way this will be grasped with any effectiveness is by providing resources for Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Garda, and that needs to be done. We know, for example, that the number of young women who are smoking is rising, we know very few older people give up smoking and we know the volume market for cigarettes is constant, if not rising. The black market criminals are gaining in volume terms because the cost to them of importing and distributing the cigarettes is very low, even when compared to a price of €4 a pack.

We have to grasp this. With all due respect to the Minister of State, dancing around the edges with advice sheets and statistics on how many criminals were apprehended, got custodial sentences and all the rest is nearly irrelevant. We have to gear up and get the equipment to do it. We should find out who are the shipping agents and shippers for the containers that come in, and give them the hefty fines, rather than those who are caught with the cigarettes in their possession. That will force them to find out what is in the containers.

See this speech in context