Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister may recall that in the previous Dáil I put forward legislation advocating the establishment of a cross-Border crime agency to deal with the smuggling of illicit fuel and tobacco products in particular. I commend the Minister's contribution to having some of those measures implemented in the Fresh Start deal agreed at Stormont. An agency was put in place. Illicit trade has not gone away, however, and is starting to appear again. It poses a danger to legitimate business, consumers, the environment and our Exchequer. That is just one issue with which gardaí in Cavan-Monaghan and Border divisions have to cope which is not as prevalent further to the south.

In view of the particular needs of a Border Garda division, particular attention should be given in the allocation of resources. I hope the Minister will give me a commitment that he will speak to the Garda Commissioner about the needs of the Cavan-Monaghan division.

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