Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The loss of Exchequer revenue is not jargon. It is money for our health system, our schools and for running our public services. The Government is absolutely determined to crack down on this, because it must. From my perspective in the Department of Finance, we must protect every euro and cent that is owed to the Irish taxpayer and we must also support legitimate business.

It is important once again to appeal to people with information about smuggling and illicit trade, be it in diesel or fuel or in drugs and tobacco, to come forward with that information on a confidential basis. The interests of consumers and compliant business are best served by them playing their part in combatting the shadow economic activity by knowing their suppliers and providing information, anonymously or otherwise, to the Revenue Commissioners or to other relevant State agencies on persons involved in the shadow economy. All that is required for evil to triumph is good men and women to stand idly by. People who have information must come forward and help the authorities in combatting this. In that regard, the Revenue Commissioners recently launched a dedicated section on its website which allows people to report information electronically about shadow economic practices. There is a duty on all Members of the Oireachtas to convey that message to our communities. There is also a confidential free telephone number available in respect of drug and tobacco smuggling, 1800 295295. I encourage Senators to work with the Revenue Commissioners and spread that information, which is quite important.

Penalties for smuggling are provided for in section 119 of the Finance Act 2001. On conviction following summary prosecution under these provisions, a court may impose a fine of €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both. Where a person is convicted of an indictable offence, the court may impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding €126,970, or both. In addition, for an indictable offence under section 102 of the Finance Act 2001, if the value of the smuggled product concerned exceeds €250,000, including duty and taxes, the court may impose a penalty of three times the value of the products or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both. Obviously, the precise penalty imposed on conviction in each case is solely a matter for the courts.

The new marker is coming on stream and we are actively keeping legislative options under review. The Revenue Commissioners are working to a strategy. As has been acknowledged in the report, co-operation between the authorities North and South in both the justice and revenue areas has never been better, but we cannot be complacent. We must build on that. I assure the House, Senator Coghlan and the committee that the recommendations in the report are receiving careful consideration by the Government. I thank the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the Seanad for the opportunity to debate this matter.