Vol. 457 No. 3
6 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to recent major drug finds off the south east coast; and if he will impress on the Revenue Commissioners the need to relocate a fully equipped seagoing Anti-drugs Unit in Waterford. [15239/95]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that between 29 August and 15 October 1995, ten bales of cannabis resin with a street value of some £3 million were recovered from the seabed off the south-east coast. Local trawler men have been assisting Customs in the continuing search and the Naval Service is also providing assistance. In addition to this major drugs find, Customs also seized 30 kilogrammes of cannabis resin with an estimated value of £300,000 from two passengers who arrived by ferry at Rosslare Harbour on 1 October 1995.
As the House was informed during the Adjournment debate on 7 June 1995, the Revenue Commissioners decided, for operational reasons, to relocate a customs maritime unit from Waterford to Cork. This decision was influenced by the level of drug smuggling which had been encountered along the south west coast, and the fact that staff training for maritime duties is carried out in Cork.
All maritime units are mobile and capable of being rapidly re-deployed overland to meet operational requirements. In fact, the craft located in Cork have operated in the Waterford region as and when required.
The semi-rigid inflatable craft used by maritime units are suitable only for inshore use or for use close to the shoreline. A maritime unit would have no operational role to play in a recovery operation from the sea bed of the kind taking place off the south east coast or in seizures from ferry passengers. The Revenue Commissioners keep the deployment of Customs resources under review.
It is most alarming that no boat is being operated by the Customs and Excise unit in Waterford. There was such a boat until an industrial dispute earlier this year when it was removed to Cork where two such boats are now based. The result is that cannabis smugglers have recognised a major gap in surveillance along our coast. The Wexford/Waterford coast is now the main point of entry for drug smuggling. Cannabis finds of £3 million, to which the Minister referred in his reply, are clearly indicative of that fact. The Minister should be reasonable and relocate the boat which was removed from Waterford into that port.
The Deputy has made his point adequately.
Would the Minister agree that this is a major problem and that smugglers have discovered a weakness in the system? That is why cannabis is being found in the locality.
I understand the Deputy's concern about this matter which he also raised on 7 June by way of an Adjournment debate. I am informed that since he raised that matter it has been looked at again. In the judgment of those directly responsible for this operation, Cork is the optimum location at present for the location of two boats, having regard to the fact that the training unit is there, as well as the substantial amount of smuggling that has been going on along the south-west coast. However, in view of the information the Deputy has given to the House, I will bring this matter to the attention of the relevant authorities again to see if they are of a mind to change their position.
Initially the boat was removed from Waterford to Cork because of an inter-union dispute which has been solved for several months past. In view of that, I would ask the Minister to relocate the boat to Waterford. It is no coincidence that in Waterford District Court last week, according to the Waterford News and Star, there were 11 separate cases of people being charged with possession of cannabis. The south-east region now seems to be the major area for smuggling cannabis into this island. In view of that, would the Minister review the strategy which, in my opinion, has gone badly astray?
I recognise that the industrial dispute was a factor in the decision to relocate the boat to Cork. I note from what the Deputy has said, although I have no notice of it here, that the dispute no longer prevails. I will bring those circumstances to the attention of the relevant authorities. To avoid conveying the wrong impression, I assure the House that I have no function in the operational management arrangements of the Revenue Commissioners. This is entirely a matter for the Commissioners, although I will convey the Deputy's concern as expressed in the House.
I suppose I will not be accused of flippancy in saying that there would be general popular support for the idea of the Revenue Commissioners being put out to sea in semi-inflatable, semi-rigid craft.
They are being bailed out by the drugs squad as well.
Does all this not point to a major difficulty in relation to Customs and our coastline? Is it not time for Ireland to consider looking to Europe to support some sort of single coastguard service into which our Naval forces and our Customs effort could be channelled? From what the Minister is saying it seems that these cannabis seizures could not have been made by Customs and Excise without the intervention of the Naval Service. That calls into question whether we have a really effective coastguard, along American lines, to keep this kind of material out.
I regret that, perhaps due to other commitments, the Deputy was not here on the Order of Business this morning because he would have heard the Taoiseach reply fully to the very point he has raised. The Taoiseach has on a number of occasions raised this matter with European heads of Government on the basis that it is a European problem and that Ireland appears to be a possible port of entry for drugs to the European mainland. Our coastline is enormous compared to other countries and since this is a European problem, perhaps it requires a European response. However, other member states, for reasons to which they are entitled, feel that the establishment of a European coastal service would be a further step towards a loss of sovereignty. I hesitate to think what the hysterical outbursts of Mr. Michael Portillo might be if such a measure was proposed. I assure the Deputy that not only has the Taoiseach raised this matter in the past, but he has indicated his intention to make it an item of concern during the Irish Presidency next year.
It was not the Irish Navy who discovered these bales of cannabis, but the fishermen in the south-east. We can be thankful that they are not prone to smoking pot.
Smoked salmon.
Some time ago Deputy Joe Walsh raised the closure of the Customs and Excise office in Castletownbere.
A long way from the Deputy's constituency.
I will play for Munster the next time.
The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Coveney, knows that area better than I do. I ask the Minister, when in discussion with the Revenue Commissioners, to ensure that the policing of that area will not be reduced as a result of the closure of that office.
