Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to refer to the issue of cigarette smuggling. It may sound bizarre but a cigarette smuggling ring was thwarted this week only when al-Qaeda bombed a ship, the COSCO Asia, that was transporting illegal cigarettes bound for Dundalk. Investigators put a tracking device in the container containing illegal cigarettes and the container was tracked while heading up the M1 towards Dundalk. Subsequently, a Dundalk man was arrested and a number of houses were searched in regard to the criminal activity.

We are talking about sums of €20 million, €8 million and otherwise but we should note some €1.3 billion is lost in revenue in the State annually due to illegal cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering. That would build a lot of schools and hospitals, and it would provide many social services. That is real money. We need to continue to support the Revenue Commissioners, the Customs and Excise and other enforcement agencies in dealing with this criminal activity. Much of the revenue from smuggled cigarettes goes to illegal organisations in this country, including anarchists.

I would like the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come to the House again. We spoke about diesel laundering but we now want to know about cigarette smuggling. Carcinogens and poisons in the illegal cigarettes are even more toxic than those in the legal ones. They are absolutely lethal. I am sorry that the young children have left the Visitors Gallery because I was going to ask them on this day, the day of their visit to the Seanad, to resolve not to smoke because of the health problems associated with the practice. I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me the opportunity to speak on this matter.