asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that Thomas and Bernard Keenan, of Clonelig, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, were prosecuted at Dundalk District Court on the 19th September last in connection with the illegal importation of a quantity of live fowls into the Saorstát; that the offenders were fined £200; that this fine was subsequently reduced; and, if so, what was the amount of the fine collected and what were the special circumstances in the case which justified the reduction; whether it is the custom of the Revenue Commissioners to pay informers rewards; if any such reward was paid in this case, and if not, why not; further, whether the name of the person giving the information which led to the seizure was communicated in confidence to the Revenue Commissioners; and, if so, why was the reward not paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reduction of Smuggling Fine.
Thomas and Bernard Keenan, of Clonalig, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, were fined £100 each at Dundalk District Court on 19th September last, under Section 186 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, for being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent attempt at evasion of payment of duty on fowl imported into Saorstát Eireann on 10th September. The penalties were subsequently mitigated by the Revenue Commissioners to £2 10s. 0d. in each case, and these amounts have been duly recovered. It is not in the public interest to disclose the grounds on which the power to mitigate Customs penalties has been exercised, nor to disclose any particulars as to whether or not information was received by the Revenue Commissioners in any particular case. The Commissioners' powers as to payment of rewards are based upon Section 32 of the Inland Revenue Regulation Act, 1890, the Excise Transfer Order, 1909, paragraph 23, the Revenue Commissioners Order, 1923, and the Customs and Excise (Adaptation of Enactments) Order, 1924.