John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the number of customs and excise officers at international and regional airports here and the number of checks carried out by such officers conforms to the minimum requirements set down by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16399/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no minimum requirements set down by the European Union in relation to the number of Customs and Excise Officers at international and regional airports or for the number of checks to be carried out at those airports.

As regards the Customs controls at Irish airports, I am advised that there is a permanent Customs presence at the three main airports. This staffing resource is kept under constant review in particular to take account of emerging smuggling trends and any traffic increases at these airports.

Customs controls at the smaller airports are risk-based and are carried out by mobile Customs enforcement staff. Attendance is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Attendance can also be as a result of specific intelligence. Flights with origins and destinations with a high-risk rating would attract particular interest. These attendances cover the full range of flight times. As in the case of the three main airports, this staffing resource is also kept under constant review.

It is important to note by way of context that the operating environment for Customs has been shaped to a significant degree by the introduction of the Internal Market and the related principles of freedom of movement within the EU. 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 the smaller airports where passenger traffic is predominantly intra-Community. In fact some of the smaller ones have no international flights at all. The 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.

I have been assured by the Revenue Commissioners that they are satisfied with the level of Customs controls at airports. In particular, they are satisfied that the risk-based approach applied at the smaller airports remains valid and that their operations at these airports are on par with, and may even exceed, those of many other EU Member States.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of sniffer dogs available to customs and excise officers; the number of trained dog handlers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16400/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners who have responsibility for the Customs service, that they currently deploy twelve detector dog teams at strategic locations around the country including our ports, airports and international postal depots. Each of the dog teams consists of a trained dog handler and sniffer dog. The Customs Dog teams are supported on an ongoing basis in their routine work and during specific operations by other Customs Enforcement Officers. The teams include "sit and stare" type dogs, which are used specifically, but not exclusively, to screen passengers arriving at our ports and airports, together with proactive detector dogs, suitable for the examination of luggage and freight and multipurpose dogs suitable for both passenger, freight and tourist traffic. The main emphasis is on drugs detection but there is also a tobacco and cash detection capability. Customs detector dog teams also provide back-up for An Garda Síochána, on request.