Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister and compliment him on the fine job in restoring the image of our country both at home and abroad. There is anecdotal evidence that significant sums of money are being lost through various tax avoidance schemes and operations such as diesel fuel laundering, cigarette smuggling, cross-Border activity and VAT scams. Will the Minister say what sums are involved and what is the loss to the Exchequer? Are resources being put in place to tackle these criminals who are depriving the country of badly needed revenues at a time when services have to be cut because of falling revenues?

I support the Minister's comments about credit unions. I hope we will continue to have a strong and robust credit union movement which has served this country well over the years. The credit unions are the banks for the small person but they also provide employment in all parts of the country and they must be maintained.