Vol. 478 No. 6
17 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons prosecuted for the sale of unstamped cigarettes in 1996; the number who were sentenced to prison; and whether he has satisfied himself with the enforcement of existing laws on the matter. [11674/97]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that in 1996, 81 prosecutions were instituted against 61 persons who were detected selling unstamped cigarettes. To date 31 of these cases have been heard in court resulting in the imposition of fines totalling £19,000. So far in 1997 a further 104 prosecutions have been instituted. As the current legislation governing the sale of unstamped cigarettes does not provide for the imposition of custodial sentences nobody has yet been sent to prison.
As well as prosecutions for selling unstamped cigarettes a further 50 prosecutions were instituted in 1996 for smuggling cigarettes into the country. To date in 1997, nine such prosecutions have been instituted. In these cases 36 convictions have been secured resulting in the imposition of fines totalling £25,356 and jail sentences of one month in four cases or 50 hours community service in lieu, if offenders are regarded as suitable for carrying out such service. These prosecutions are regarded as an important part of the overall enforcement effort aimed at the sources of tobacco products feeding the illicit street trade. Tobacco smuggling is, of course, a European wide problem and with my agreement, Revenue have taken the issue up at that level with a view to having all aspects of the matter examined. The EU Commission has, in fact, now agreed with member states to establish a high-level group for this purpose.
