Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is a direct correlation there.

On the question of illegal consumption, the Revenue Commissioners estimate that the total consumption of non-duty cigarettes in the State is 19%. Of that, 6% is made up of cigarettes purchased legally in other States, that is, cartons that people buy on their holidays abroad and bring home with them. The other 13% is due to smuggling. A number of measures are being taken to address the smuggling problem. The Revenue Commissioners, for example, have added a van scanner to their detection equipment. Revenue had a number of scanners for detecting large containers of cigarettes coming into the State and in response to that, some smugglers broke up their consignments into smaller units. The new van scanner is capable of scanning for the much lower quantities involved.

I am aware that I am out of time but am grateful for the opportunity to put those facts before the House.

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