Written answers

Wednesday, 14 February 2007

Department of Finance

Regional Airports

10:00 pm

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department will provide customs at Ireland West Airport Knock on a 24 hour basis in view of the increasing volume of traffic going through this airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5565/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether sniffer dogs are needed at Ireland West Airport Knock as a detection tool and as a deterrent to drug pushers, taking into account the increasing amount of flights going through Knock Airport including EU and US flights as well as domestic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5566/07]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, following a seizure of heroin in Belgium and the related arrest of three Irish nationals last year, the Revenue Commissioners initiated a review of Customs controls at Licensed Aerodromes (incl. Knock).

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their review has now been completed. The review examined the controls, the conditions of approval and the risks, from a Customs point of view, attached to the operation of the aerodromes.

It is important to note by way of context that the operating environment for Customs has been shaped to significant degree by the introduction of the Internal Market and the related principles of freedom of movement within the European Union. Of specific relevance are the abolition of routine and systematic Customs checks on goods and passengers moving within any part of the EU and the elimination of Customs controls on the baggage of intra-Community passengers other than anti-smuggling checks. This is particularly relevant in the case of Knock Airport where passenger traffic is predominantly intra-Community. In this context, Revenue's approach has of necessity been to balance the freedom of movement principle in regard to people and goods with the need to control smuggling and enforce prohibitions and restrictions.

The Revenue Commissioners have also informed me that Customs controls at Knock Airport are risk based and are carried out by mobile Special Compliance/Enforcement staff. Attendance by staff is selective and targeted. It is based on analysis and evaluation of general seizure trends, traffic frequency, route and similar risk indicators. These attendances cover the full range of flights times and are kept under constant review in particular to take account of emerging smuggling trends and any traffic increase at the airport.

As regards the use of detection dogs at Knock Airport, such dogs have in fact been used at this location for a number of years. The deployment of these dogs is also risk based and is kept under constant review.

The Revenue Commissioners assure me that having regard to the context set out above, they are satisfied that their risk based approach remains valid and that, with the implementation of the review recommendations, their operations will be on a par with, and may even exceed, those of many other EU Member States.

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