Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I strongly support Senator Mullins's comments on the black economy. There is increasing evidence of cash rackets, diesel laundering, and illegal tobacco trading and the latter, in particular, is wreaking havoc in the city of Dublin and in other areas of the country. There is also evidence that many of these black market activities are emanating from the Border areas. I know there is excellent co-operation between the two police forces on this island and I am not necessarily saying there should be more because I do not know the details. I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House to debate this matter. We would probably need to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality in order to discuss security and to ascertain what is going on between the two police forces.

It would be helpful to have a debate on this area because there is increasing evidence of people dealing with others who are not registered. This is not good citizenship. It behoves us to ensure that people are law-abiding in their tax affairs. I know there is a tendency in a recession to deal in cash but that causes its own problems. We have enormous problems with regard to the Exchequer. There is an enormous discrepancy between what it is costing to run our services and what the State is taking in, which is why we have our current budgetary difficulties. In that context, I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House to discuss the black economy. We could have a very useful debate on the matter. We are all gathering anecdotal evidence of an increase in various rackets. I do not know what can be done and it appears to be a very difficult issue with which to grapple.