Vol. 438 No. 1
40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the extent of resources and manpower available to the Customs and Excise in west Cork and Kerry in the battle against drug smugglers; his views on whether these are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware a Customs National Drugs Team (CNDT) was set up by the Revenue Commissioners to combat the smuggling of drugs in view of the greater responsibility placed on Customs for protecting not only Ireland but the European Union as a whole against drug smuggling from third countries, with the abolition of systematic checks at internal Community frontiers since 1 January, 1993. The CNDT, comprising over seventy staff, consists of Intelligence Units, Operational Units, Maritime Units and Sniffer-dog Units, which are strategically based at locations throughout the country. These specialist officials supplement the general cadre of Customs and Excise staff who are also responsible for the detection and prevention of drug smuggling as part of their normal duties.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that two full-time members of the CNDT are based in each of the two areas of West Cork and Kerry, and are assisted by two further officers of Customs and Excise on a part-time basis. Where the need arises, these CNDT members can call on the assistance of other Customs and Excise staff, in particular the seven officials attached to Customs and Excise Mobile Task Units which operate in their areas. Additionally, they can request the assistance, when necessary, of CNDT staff based in Cork, Limerick and Shannon which comprises twenty-five members, including two sniffer-dog units and one Maritime Unit. All units are mobile and employ the most modern means of communication.
In the circumstances, I am satisfied that the present Customs and Excise levels of staffing are adequate to combat drug smuggling in the West Cork and Kerry areas. On resources generally I would remind Deputies that I am pressing the case at European Union level for the provision of assistance to enable this country to equip itself better to protect the Irish sector of the external frontier of the European Union.
