Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

We are talking about the Revenue Commissioners here, an authority that has implemented the customs code in this country for many decades, and about an airport that has been very active and very busy throughout its existence. I have explained to the Deputy really clearly the circumstances in which customs inspection is due. The subsections to which he refers do not take the place of the reality I have outlined, which is that goods have to be unloaded in particular circumstances and have to arrive into the EU in a particular way for them to be subjected to the customs code. That does not happen in Shannon Airport with regard to military aircraft and for that reason, our customs code plays no role in the issue to which the Deputy is referring.

See this speech in context