John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of private aircraft searched for drugs at Ireland West Airport Knock in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9909/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that all private aircraft arrivals at Ireland West Airport Knock are monitored on an ongoing basis, and based on risk analysis, profiling, review of intelligence etc., a decision is made on whether or not to search a private aircraft. While private aircraft are boarded from time to time at Ireland West Airport Knock, to check for drugs and other contraband, it is not the policy of the Revenue Commissioners to publish precise details of such enforcement activities, as this could prejudice current or future operations. The Commissioners further advise me that passengers and crew from private aircraft who enter the State are subject to the same checks as other arrivals, including individual profiling, and are liable to be checked by Revenue staff and screened by the drug detector dog.

In line with best practice in customs administration worldwide, Revenue regards the development of information and intelligence as critical to the detection of evasion and smuggling, including drug smuggling. This is very important in the case of Ireland and other EU Member States where 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. 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.