Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The effects of minimum alcohol pricing on the movement of goods and decisions to shop across the Border are well understood by me. I absolutely take the Deputy's point that if there is to be a change in the price of a product that is so inherently mobile and valuable, we need to take great care in assessing its impact on the retail trade in this country.

I will certainly take the Deputy's suggestions on board. I always do my best to respond favourably to any request to me from the Revenue Commissioners in looking for additional resources or support. Let me give the Deputy a sense of the scale of current activity. For example, on 16 January, officers at Dublin Port seized over 11,000 l of alcohol. The smuggled alcohol included over 10,000 l of blended Scotch whiskey and over 800 l of alcopops. The effect of the sale and distribution of these products on decent, law-abiding retailers is really clear and serious. The Deputy will be aware that, as recently as last November, Revenue officers seized 8 million cigarettes at Dublin Port.

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