John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Everybody, except customs service officers, has been engaged with. This is not a matter of inconvenience and I need the Minister to engage with me because the deadline is eight days away.

Section 25 of the Customs Act 2015 and other legislation exempt authorised officers of the Revenue Commissioners and the customs service from search. Customs service officers became aware that they would be searched by a private security company known as the Airport Search Unit, ASU, and employed by the Dublin Airport Authority. Customs service officers have the same exemption as members of An Garda Síochána and Army personnel. Why are they not included? In the jurisdiction of a port or an airport customs service officers have powers which far exceed those of other personnel. They have been exempt from search at Dublin Airport since its opening.

For reasons yet to be explained, their exemption is about to be withdrawn, but the exemption remains in place for gardaí and Army personnel. Dublin Airport is the place of work for customs service officers. What would happen if a garda had to be searched by private security personnel each time he or she entered his or her or any Garda station? Under the new guidelines, from 31 January, an off-duty garda will be able to pass through security in Dublin Airport without being searched, while a customs service officer will not.

The role of customs service officers involves access to all areas of Dublin Airport, landside and airside. They cross these lines numerous times every day to deal with a variety of situations. Security screening could potentially interfere with court evidence because this decision affects dog handlers, customs service officers’ transportation vans and cargo customs service officers who regularly bring suspected narcotics through security. To the best of my understanding, this is not applicable in other EU airports.

What is the purpose in a private security company, not the State security agencies, searching an enforcement officer in the course of his or her duties? Will the Minister ask for a report from his Department on this issue? A question mark has been placed over the role and integrity of customs service officers who are one of the first lines of defence in the country in preventing narcotics smuggling.

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