asked the Minister for Finance the total loss to the Exchequer of the abolition of duty on beer, spirits, cigarettes and tobacco on aircraft and ships between Ireland, the UK and the continent of Europe.
Written Answers. - Duty Free Facilities.
74.
Duty free facilities are already available on aircraft and ships travelling between this country and continental Europe: were the usual duties paid on beer, spirits and tobacco at present supplied from Irish stocks for sale duty free, the resulting revenue to the Exchequer could approach £1 million. It is difficult to estimate the loss of duty to the Exchequer which could result from the introduction of duty free facilities for beer, spirits and tobacco on sea and air routes between this country and the UK, including access to duty free shops at airports, because of uncertainty as to the impact on sales which the removal of such duty might have but it is possible that the loss of duty could be of the order of £6 million.