Brendan Smith urges stronger powers for Revenue to stop illicit trade
Deputy Brendan Smith addressed the minister on illicit cross-border trade in drinks, household fuel and tobacco, urging stronger powers for the Revenue Commissioners and other statutory agencies. He said the illegal trade is costing the State revenue and unfairly burdens genuine small and medium enterprises.
Main concerns
The deputy warned that illicit trade continues across the border in drinks products, household fuel products and tobacco, and said products are moving from Northern Ireland into border counties and much farther south. He argued that measures such as the carbon tax add to the cost burden on legitimate businesses, making it harder for them to compete with illegal traders.
Impact on businesses and revenue
He said the illegal trade represents a loss of revenue to the State and places unfair burdens on decent, honourable small and medium enterprises trying to compete with people trading illegally. He also cautioned that revenue from smuggling is often used to fund further illegal and dangerous activity.
Enforcement and evidence
The minister acknowledged enforcement work and provided seizure figures, noting that as recently as April of that year 2.9 million smuggled cigarettes were detected and removed in a single operation by the Revenue Commissioner. The minister said he will continue to respond positively to any proposals from the Revenue Commissioner for additional resources or warranted powers.
Next steps requested
The deputy urged constant review and diligent consideration of strengthening the powers of the Revenue Commissioners and other statutory agencies to tackle the ongoing trade. The minister signalled determination to support the Revenue Commissioner in tackling smuggling and illegal trading.
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Hi, Minister, I commend the work of the Revenue Commissioners and indeed when they are supported by other statutory agencies as well. As we know they often work in difficult circumstances and they are dealing with dangerous criminals in many instances. Minister, there is still illicit trade going on, unfortunately, cross-border in drinks products, in household fuel products and in tobacco. And I would appeal to you to constantly review and give diligent consideration to the strengthening of some of the powers for the Revenue Commissioners. As we all know, unfortunately, revenue has been lost to our state. An ally to the loss of revenue to our state is the unfair burdens put on decent, honourable, small and medium enterprises to try to compete with people who are trading illegally and bringing in illicit product. I know, for instance, the carbon tax is an additional burden, say, in relation to household fuel products. And products are coming from Northern Ireland to the border counties and much farther south as well. And our decent, honourable businesses cannot compete. That's just in household fuel products and in other products as well. So we need to strengthen the powers of the Revenue Commissioners and the other statutory agencies to deal with this trade that is happening as we speak. Minister. Deputy, thank you. And you know, you raise this issue with me very, very regularly. And I know how important it is to the businesses and communities that you represent. I think on a number of the occasions where you and I have discussed this, I've also made available to you information regarding the scale of seizures that are happening. And you may be aware that as recently as April of this year, 2.9 million smuggled cigarettes were detected and removed in a single operation by the Revenue Commissioner. And I will continue, Deputy, to respond back positively to any proposals that the Revenue Commissioner have in relation to additional resources or additional warranted power that they need. This represents a loss of revenue to our economy. It's illegal. And on many occasions, this revenue is then used to fund further illegal and dangerous activity. And I'm determined to support the Revenue Commissioner in any way I can.
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