Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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370.To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for the moving of the ship Mathew MV, which is docked at Marina Point in Cork Harbour, and which will now be considered the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners; the way he intends to ensure that this asset is either realised or disposed of, and moved from Cork Harbour.[35538/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by Revenue that, under the provisions of the Customs Act 2015, the MV Matthew was seized by an Officer of Customs on 19 October 2023 following the seizure of €157million worth of cocaine on board the vessel. The vessel is now forfeit to the Revenue Commissioners.

The MV Matthew is currently located at Belvelly Port, Marino Point, Cork, which has been designated by the Port of Cork as the most suitable location given the size of the vessel.

A number of persons are currently before the courts on charges related to this matter and the MV Matthew is deemed to be an exhibit in those proceedings. I am advised that it is Revenue’s intention to dispose of the vessel as soon as the legal position allows. In the meantime, the MV Matthew remains under the care and management of Revenue as the seizing authority.