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

I assure the Deputy that all that can be done is being done by An Garda Síochána, their counterparts in Northern Ireland and Revenue on this matter. I accept that the changes to our carbon tax that come into force in May will have an impact on the differentials to which Deputy Smith refers. However, the differentials that can lie behind the smuggling to which the Deputy referred will be the subject of a minor change that can be attributed to the increase in carbon pricing in May. I know that there will be a change but I do not believe that, of itself, will be a contributor to some of the issues referred to by him.

I will give the House an example of the kind of work that is under way. Cigarettes and other tobacco goods to the value of €36.9 million were seized by the Revenue Commissioners across 2020. I am advised that at the beginning of this year, Revenue participated in a number of joint operations within low smoke zones to deal with some of the issues of concern to the Deputy.

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