Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 898: To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether tobacco smuggling is a public health threat; if he plans to address illegal tobacco selling in his Tobacco Policy Review; if he will provide a time-frame for the publication of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26676/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

All tobacco products, whether legally produced, illicit or counterfeit are injurious to health and are therefore a threat to public health. I am concerned about the level and it remains my objective that Ireland becomes a tobacco free society.

The Revenue Commissioners are responsible for tackling the illicit trade in cigarettes and tobacco products. My Department and the HSE support Revenue's Strategy On Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011- 2013). The Revenue Commissioners attach a high priority to this area, and they continuously review their response to the problem and their effectiveness in tackling the illicit tobacco trade. The strategy employed by Revenue to tackle the illicit tobacco products trade is multi-faceted. It includes ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem, developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, ongoing review of operational policies, development of analytics and detection technologies, and optimum deployment of resources at point of importation and inland, in order to intercept the contraband product and to prosecute those involved. I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that in 2011, a total of 109.08m cigarettes with a retail value of €45.95m and 11,158 kgs of tobacco with a retail value of €4.00 m were been seized by Revenue. In 2012 to date a total of 56.2m cigarettes with a retail value of €24.5m and 2,077kgs of tobacco with a retail value of €6.87m have been seized by Revenue.

The Report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group (TPRG ) will consider ways to denormalise smoking in society such as extending tobacco control legislation in particular for situations where children are present. It will also consider social marketing and educational programmes as well as smoking cessation services. The Report includes a section on the illicit trade of tobacco, including the work of the Revenue Commissioners. I anticipate that the report of the TPRG will be completed in the coming months and that this will be brought to Government for decision.