Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I want to make a number of suggestions that he might consider. I commend the work of the Revenue Commissioners and the Customs service. I commend the resilience of Border traders who have struggled during the years owing to volatility which is much greater in the context of Brexit. I would like the Minister to consider providing extra staff and for an amendment to the Finance Act 2001 to include members of An Garda Síochána in the definition of the term "officer", giving them the same search warrant rights as officers of the Revenue Commissioners. This is badly needed.

I wish to raise the issues of carbon taxes and minimum alcohol pricing, about which I spoke to the Minister at a meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. Minimum alcohol pricing which is due to be introduced will have a serious impact. Smokeless coal from the North will also have an impact and cause more problems for the health of people living in the region.

See this speech in context