asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the increased illegal traffic in cattle and goods operating across the Six Counties Border in recent times; and whether, in view of its demoralising effect on the community, he will take steps either to tighten customs regulations or to open the Border to all traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Illegal Traffic.
I am not aware of any increased illegal traffic in cattle across the land frontier. There is little reason why there should be since no duty is chargeable on Six-County cattle and, apart from certain restrictions as to times and routes under the land frontier regulations, cattle may be freely imported and exported across the land frontier.
I am also satisfied that, generally speaking, illegal traffic in other goods across the land frontier has not increased appreciably in recent years.
The second part of the Deputy's question does not, therefore, arise.
Surely the Minister is not reduced to such a state of delusion that he believes there is no increase in the illegal import of butter into this country? I can tell him that there has been more butter imported illegally across the Border in the last six months than was imported into this country in the previous 20 years.
If that is the case, the statements made by Fine Gael that butter consumption is going down are all wrong.
Let us get this clear. If the illegal import of butter is allowed to continue unrestricted the whole price structure, which the Minister is so anxious to maintain, will be undermined. Surely the Minister is aware of that? Or is he unaware of the fact that large quantities of butter are being illegally imported?
My information is that the traffic in that respect is not large.
The Minister is daft if he believes that. He is as daft as a sixpenny watch.
I am in good company.