Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 6

Written Answers. - Customs and Excise Service.

Joan Burton

Question:

93 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance the total number and value of contraband cigarettes seized by the Customs and Excise Service in each of the past five years; his estimate of the loss to the Exchequer in terms of tax and excise duties arising from the illegal cigarette market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14628/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that details of cigarettes seized by customs during the past five years are as follows:

Year	Number of Seizures	Quantity Seized No.	Estimated Retail Value	Revenue at Risk
			€	€
1998	188	8.4m	1.6m	1.3m
1999	233	70.7m	14.1m	10.9m
2000	403	96.3m	22.7m	18.1m
2001	2,467	162.1m	40.3m	31.9m
2002	3,826	74.8m	18.7m	14.7m

I am advised that it is not feasible to estimate the loss to the Exchequer resulting from the illegal trade in cigarettes. It is acknowledged that a certain amount of illegal trading is taking place and this does affect returns to the Exchequer. However, illegal street trading has not re-emerged to any significant degree since concerted enforcement action was taken by Customs and the Garda following the introduction of tax stamps in 1995. I understand that the circumstances in which many of the seizures listed above were made, in addition to the brands of the cigarettes themselves, would strongly indicate that a significant portion of the cigarettes seized in the State are intended for the UK market where cigarette taxes are higher. This situation is kept under continual review.