Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that following the recent conviction of a person (details supplied) on charges of conspiracy to import heroin and cocaine worth €7 million through Weston Airport, County Dublin, that sufficient measures are in place to prevent private airports from being used for drugs trafficking purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40162/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Customs controls at Weston Airport and at private airports in general are risk-based. The controls are carried out by mobile Customs enforcement staff, whose attendance is selective and targeted, 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. Traffic with origins and destinations with a high-risk rating would attract particular interest.

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 small private airports where passenger traffic is predominantly intra-Community. 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, while the situation is kept under review, they are satisfied with the current level of Customs controls at these locations. In particular, they are satisfied that the risk-based approach remains valid and that the controls applied are on a par with, and may even exceed, those of many other EU Member States.