Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent drugs seizure from a flight that left from Weston Executive Airport in County Kildare; his further views on the lack of surveillance by the Revenue and customs authorities at private airports here and the risk of illegal trafficking of drugs, goods and people arising therefrom; if he will report on the Revenue Commissioners promised review of approved licensed aerodromes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33562/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The customs service of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs at importation. It has particular responsibility for implementing import controls at points of entry to the State, specifically at ports and airports, including licensed airfields, and on the land frontier. The control of licensed airfields in the State is carried out by customs enforcement teams. Those teams are dedicated anti-smuggling teams that focus on the smuggling of prohibited drugs and fiscal products.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me as Minister for Finance to comment in detail on the specific operation that resulted in the seizure of a reported 50 kg of heroin in Belgium a number of weeks ago. The fact that three Irish nationals were arrested and that the aircraft, detained by the Belgian authorities, had departed from and is based at Weston aerodrome is of major concern to the Revenue Commissioners.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that best practice in customs administration worldwide shows that the development of information and intelligence is critical to the detection of drug smuggling. In Ireland, this has become very important since the completion of the Single Market in 1993, based as it is on the free movement of goods and people within the Community. As intra-Community travellers have the right of free movement, Revenue has no power to stop them except on the basis of a suspicion, normally grounded on specific intelligence.

Revenue's customs service also shares and receives information and intelligence on drug smuggling from a number of international bodies, including the World Customs Organisation, the United Nations Drug Control Programme, Interpol, the Council of Europe, Europol and the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Revenue's customs service liaises on an ongoing basis with other national and international enforcement services such as the Garda Síochána, the Naval Service, the Air Corps and foreign customs and police services. It takes part on a regular basis in European, bilateral and national surveillance operations focused at specific drug smuggling methodologies, including general aviation. Some of these operations have been specifically directed at light aircraft and helicopter movements.

The Revenue's customs service is continuously engaged in the analysis and evaluation of seizure trends, routes and smuggling risks and consequential resource deployment. All customs service operations are risk focused and staff are deployed to combat areas of greatest risk. Revenue constantly reviews staffing levels and structures to ensure that resources are matched to risk. The level of activity at licensed aerodromes is constantly monitored from a risk perspective.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is the Minister aware there are 27 private airports in the country and that if statistics are to be believed, there is a significant upsurge in private ownership, leasing and chartering of aircraft and helicopters for private use? Is he aware that in the six-month period between February and end-July some 142 flights originating from EU countries and the European mainland and another five flights from outside the European Union's jurisdiction flew into Weston, but that in that period customs and excise paid only 11 planned and three unplanned visits to Weston? If one does the maths, this means that anybody could bring in guns, drugs or people illegally into the country. It is not a question of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, but of leaving the stable door wide open.

I do not know if the Minister ever gets the chance to visit working class communities which are currently awash with drugs and where the price of drugs is cheaper than drink on a debs night out. These small private aerodromes are not subject to any form of serious surveillance by customs authorities. As the person with overall responsibility for ensuring customs officers try to keep the country safe from an explosion of imported drugs, what is the Minister's response to this problem?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A review is being undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners and it will include an examination of all the risks attached to the operation of and procedures attaching to aerodromes. The control of licensed aerodromes which do not have a permanent customs presence is carried out by dedicated anti-smuggling teams which focus on the smuggling of prohibited goods, including drugs and fiscal products. All of these operations are risk focused and staff are deployed to combat areas of greatest risk.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that all the available evidence from customs administrations worldwide indicates that the most effective means of detecting drug smuggling is by concentration on the development and gathering of information and intelligence in taking targeted action or intervention as a consequence. I am advised that the review is being expedited, but that to ensure it is as comprehensive as possible, it is likely to take approximately six weeks for completion. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on the specific issue because of the prospect of court proceedings.

I am aware of the statistics mentioned. Approximately 125 customs staff are involved directly in policing airports. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Weston notified third country arrivals by e-mail to a designated officer and customs enforcement administration unit at Dublin Airport. Weston Limited also supplies an extract from its electronic records of arrivals to customs at Dublin Airport on a monthly basis. Verification checks are carried out by way of audit of arrivals records and notifications received. This includes a visit to Weston and an examination of its records. There is no record of Weston having failed to notify Customs and Excise of a third party arrival.

Should a licensed aerodrome fail to give notification of third country arrivals, action may be taken under conditions of approval applicable to licensed aerodromes, condition 11 of which states that the Revenue Commissioners may at any time add to or vary these conditions and that they reserve the right to terminate the concession granted.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is the Minister aware that at Weston and the rest of the other 27 private aerodromes, taxis and limousines can drive right up to the steps of the private plane? People who came to Ireland for the Ryder Cup, particularly Americans, were astonished that there was almost no customs security at these places to guard against people who might wish to flout the law. Is he aware that when planes are subleased, there is no requirement for the owners to be informed or provided with the knowledge of for what their private aircraft are being used?

Is the Minister aware of the current explosion in the availability of drugs throughout Ireland? We had two deaths this weekend in Dublin west, apparently as a result of overdoses. At Dublin Airport, even if one goes through the ministerial gateway, it can take three hours to go through the customs checks where there are even sniffer dogs looking for drugs. However, in the private aerodromes there is nothing bar an e-mail to say the customs may come. Is the Minister satisfied that this kind of supervision is adequate? It leaves the gate wide open. There were 11 visits this year so far and these were notified and planned, with only three unplanned visits. This is an open invitation to any serious drug criminal, many of whom have tens of millions of euro to spend, to use this mechanism to swamp the country with drugs. What does the Minister have to say about this issue?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We must recognise that this seizure was carried out on the basis of intelligence through the various networks and agencies that co-ordinate actions in this area. I do not think one should draw a conclusion that the flights that pass through our aerodromes are all drug laden. That is not a fair reflection.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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They have the opportunity.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think it is a fair reflection on the professionalism of the staff or the confidence we should place in the ability of Customs and Excise staff to do their jobs. They have indicated that best international practice in regard to these sort of facilities is put in place. All the evidence from Customs and Excise administrations worldwide indicates that the most effective means of detecting smuggling is by concentration on the development and gathering of information and intelligence and taking targeted action.

I have also indicated as a result of this incident the Revenue Commissioners are conducting a review. It is being dealt with as a priority matter. The review is likely to be completed within the next six weeks or so. Any lessons or recommendations that derive from it in terms of resource allocation will be considered. The review will cover the approval conditions attached to licensed aerodromes. It will also cover the risks attaching to the operation of these aerodromes from a customs perspective and the procedures in place for addressing these risks. I have every confidence that in regard to this or other instances the necessary action will be taken on foot of the seriousness with which the Customs and Excise view these matters.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Minister publish it?