Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

262. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of customs and excise cutter patrol boats that are assigned to patrol the coastline of the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they currently have two cutters in service, RCC Suirbheir (brought into service in 2004) and RCC Faire (brought into service in 2009).  They are managed and operated by the Revenue Maritime Unit which is based in Cork.

The Maritime Unit has a national remit as specialists in coastal risk.  The Unit works very closely with locally based staff in all coastal areas, helping with the development of onshore intelligence as well as patrolling and conducting targeted operations using the cutters.  Details of cutter deployment are not divulged for operational reasons, but there is an annual plan agreed with the management of each Revenue Region to ensure that the cutters and Maritime Unit staff are deployed as required in all parts of the coastal area.  In 2014, the management of the Border Midlands West Region have agreed an extensive programme of work with the Maritime Unit, including surveying and assessing risk in the Region.  This will require the presence of the Maritime Unit and of the cutters along the West coast for extended periods this year.

The Maritime Unit is involved on an ongoing basis in the patrol and monitoring of the State's maritime jurisdiction and adjacent waters.  These patrol and monitoring activities are aimed at the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of prohibited and restricted goods (including drugs) smuggled or illegally imported into, or intended to be exported out of, the State/EU. They are also involved in servicing national and international Memoranda of Understanding and Mutual Assistance requests from other jurisdictions. 

The Revenue cutters are part of a multi-faceted strategy employed by Revenue in combating drugs trafficking and other smuggling by sea. This strategy includes ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem, developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis and ongoing review of operational policies.