Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to contribute to the debate, and I commend Deputy Breathnach and his office on the work that has gone into this legislation. The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the introduction of a series of new measures directed at attacking the trade in illegal alcohol and tobacco. I have some reservations about how it will tackle the trade in solid fuels. We have a huge issue with fuel laundering. For some years I have fully endorsed calls from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, BIPA, of which I am a member, aimed at establishing a dedicated task force to target illicit cross-Border fraud between Northern Ireland and the Republic. It is clear from the information we have that those engaged in cross-Border smuggling of illicit goods such as alcohol and tobacco are essentially acting as economic parasites on our society. I attended a meeting of BIPA last weekend in London. There are huge fears there. I was not able contribute on the post-European Council meetings debate earlier, but there should be no doubt that the British intend on leaving. They will not accept a second referendum like Ireland did. We were given medicine; we did not like the medicine in the first instance so we were given another dose. The British have honour and have respect for democracy, and are leaving Europe, backstop or no backstop. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, dreamt up a rock-solid, cast-iron guaranteed backstop. Backstop or no backstop, the British are not backing out. They are going forward, not backwards.

Reports indicate that 11% of cigarette consumption in Ireland in one year alone was illicit, and the loss to the Exchequer from tobacco fraud was between €240 million and €575 million.

These are shocking and staggering figures of revenue loss, particularly to a fragile and depressed economy without mentioning the damage some of these products are doing to people's health. It also means vital services are being starved of funding because the tax gain is going to those who operate outside the law. Deputy Breathnach knows more about this living near the Border. I have some experience of it but, as they say, if you want to know me, come and live with me. In light of this, I hope the Minister will fully support an all-Ireland approach to tackling this insidious social evil.

Several weeks ago, the Government was involved in tomfoolery, putting stickers on bottles of beer and other alcohol when it will not deal with real problems. That is the way the Government has gone. It is all shenanigans, antics and spin when it will not properly tackle real problems. The sale of illicit goods has been going on under our noses for decades. If we have anything like a hard border, it will be thriving again.

The cross-Border fuel fraud enforcement group and the cross-Border tobacco fraud enforcement group must receive all the resources necessary to target these organised crime gangs involved in illicit cross-Border trade. They have many friends in here too, compatriots of days gone by. If necessary, these agencies should comprise seconded staff from all relevant agencies, including the environmental and criminal assets recovery agencies, as well as being supported by a central dedicated secretariat. These gangs are almost too powerful to be brought down. Some of them have links, some of which relate to the peace process, meaning these people cannot be reined in because they seem to be above the law. The sooner we tackle them the better. We must support the customs officials and enable those trying to tackle these gangs. Every letter I get as a self-employed businessman has at the bottom of it a warning about a custodial sentence if I do not pay my dues. These people, however, give two fingers to the legislation. Why should they not when the Government is happy to allow them get away with it? All agencies involved should be brought together. It is steps like these, allied to the ones contained in Deputy Breathnach’s Bill, that will finally allow us to make headway on this shadowy matter.

I am concerned about the poor man selling his bags of sticks from the back of a Transit van. He should be supported and left alone. I am reminded of Seamus Moore’s song, “The Transit Van”, about being chased by police cars, turning the van upside down with the wheels spinning. They should be left alone. Instead, the authorities should deal with the high-powered criminals involved in this racket.

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