Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jul 2012

Vol. 216 No. 10

Adjournment Matters

TB Eradication

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá an cheist atá ardaithe agam, a bhaineann le cúrsaí eitinne, ag déanamh an-imní d'fheirmeoirí ar fud na tíre. Go deimhin, is cúis imníé ar fud an oileáin os rud é nach dtuigeann sé aon teorainn.

I raise an issue which is of great concern to farmers across the Thirty-two Counties and knows no boundaries, that is, TB eradication. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to clarify the levels of TB on a county by county basis, the reason levels are high in County Clare, west Cork and east Wicklow and how active is the Department's wildlife programme in removing TB infected badgers in these areas. It is of huge importance to the farming community that bovine TB be eradicated. I note that the Sinn Féin Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the North, Ms Michelle O'Neill, appeared before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 3 July and outlined that the eradication of bovine TB was a top priority for her in her ministry. I am aware that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine is of the same mind. The approach adodpted in the North is to test live badgers, vaccinate and release those which test negative for TB and remove those that prove positive. Therefore, the focus is on removing diseased badgers and protecting those which are not infected.

The reason I raise the issue is that I have been speaking to people in farming circles who are concerned about a possible upsurge in the level of bovine TB across the island. They are concerned at the high levels of TB in County Clare, west Cork and east Wicklow. If the Minister is in a position to provide the figures on a county by county basis, as requested, it will be clear whether their fears are well founded. Perhaps he might outline the Department's wildlife programme to remove infected badgers from these and other areas across the island and if the necessary resources are in place. There is a fear that there may be a shortage of personnel in the areas mentioned and that this is leading to infected badgers not being removed. Is í sin an cheist atá mé ag cur ar an Aire Stáit. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis an bhfreagra atá aige dom.

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy John Perry)

I thank the Senator for raising the important issue of the bovine TB eradication programme operated by the Department. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney.

The bovine TB eradication programme operated by the Department includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, the payment of compensation for cattle removed as reactors, implementation of a range of supplementary tests such as post-derestriction and contiguous tests, a wildlife programme and the depopulation of infected herds in some cases. These measures which are implemented uniformly across the country have proved to be relatively effective in recent years as evidenced by the significant reduction in disease levels in the past decade. For example, the herd incidence fell from 7.53% in 2000 to 4.18% last year, while reactor numbers in 2011 were, at 18,500, the lowest recorded since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. Reactor numbers and the herd incidence have continued to fall in 2012.

The herd incidence in each county in 2011 is set out in the table circulated with the reply. The incidence ranges from a low of 1.88% in County Mayo to a high of 11.10% in east Wicklow. The incidence of the disease is relatively high in west and east Wicklow, where it is significantly higher than the national average. The incidence in counties Clare and Cork is also above the national average but not significantly so. TB is a complex disease and it is often very difficult to explain precisely why its incidence is higher in one part of the country than another. There are several factors at play, including environmental factors, residual infection and, of course, wildlife. It should be noted that the incidence of TB in these counties has been traditionally higher than the national average and the difficulty in eradicating TB from an area in which it has become entrenched may help to explain the continuing high incidence of the disease in these counties.

There has been, however, a substantial improvement in the position in some of the counties referred to by the Senator in the current year compared to 2011. For example, the incidence in east Wicklow has fallen by 35% from 11.10% last year to 7.15% this year. In fact, all of the counties referred to by the Senator have seen a reduction in the incidence of TB this year compared to 2011, although the reduction has not been as significant as in east Wicklow. The Department has devoted additional resources to Wicklow in the past year and is working very closely with the farming organisations and farming community in that county with a view to bringing about a further improvement in the situation there.

The TB eradication programme is scientifically based and the Department continues to monitor and review its effectiveness and efficiency on an ongoing basis in light of experience and research. In this context and having regard to the very significant improvement in the overall TB situation nationally, the Department reviewed the programme last year and concluded that eradication would require us to address all other potential sources of infection, including from neighbouring herds and the movement of high-risk animals, in addition to the emphasis which has been placed on badgers as a source of infection in recent years. There was also a recognition of the necessity that testing be conducted in a timely manner. In light of this, the Department introduced a number of changes to the TB programme earlier this year to prevent the spread of disease from infected herds to clear herds and to tighten up on overdue testing. These changes were made following a series of consultation meetings with farming organisations.

It is important to note that the changes are, first, based on research which points to the increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals and, second, designed to protect clear herds from buying in high-risk animals. For example, the restrictions imposed on the movement of inconclusive reactors is based on research which showed that standard inconclusive reactors which passed the retest and moved out of the herd, subsequent to passing the test, were 12 times more likely to be TB positive at the subsequent test or at slaughter compared with all other animals in the herd. Furthermore, the new controls on the movement of animals out of herds which are identified as contiguous to a herd experiencing an active high-risk TB breakdown are based on research which showed that the risk of such herds disclosing TB is almost three times greater than the risk in the case of herds tested on a round test.

Following representations from the farming sector, the Department has reviewed and made changes to the new arrangements. Herd owners will be contacted prior to restricting their herds under the contiguous testing programme. Herd owners who, for genuine reasons, negotiate a delay of up to one month with the district veterinary office prior to the overdue date will not have any penalties applied. In addition, herd owners who postpone their tests with the permission of the district veterinary office or are contiguous to a high-risk breakdown and are waiting for a test will be permitted to buy in animals for a limited period.

While we are very pleased with the overall improvement in the incidence of TB nationally, the Minister is aware that the position is less satisfactory in some areas. The Department's objective is to eradicate this disease and the measures introduced this year are designed to achieve that objective. The fact that TB is also endemic in the badger population has made matters extremely difficult, but I am satisfied that the Department is dealing with the issue in a very effective manner. That effort is largely responsible for the reduction we have seen in recent years. I am hopeful that we will see further progress in the coming years both nationally and in the counties referred to by the Senator.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. It is interesting to note that the Border counties have a lower average incidence of TB. Perhaps that is the effect of policy in the Six Counties, or it might be due to entirely different causes. Does the Minister of State accept that TB levels in counties Kilkenny, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford, Westmeath and even Dublin are unacceptably high? Will he clarify whether the necessary resources are being put in place to reduce those levels, particularly in Wicklow east and Wicklow west, where the rate is 11.10% and 7.6%, respectively, and to bring the national average down?

Deputy John Perry

Recent changes to the TB eradication scheme recognise that in addition to efforts to control the control the badger population, we must move to address some of the other constraints such as the movement of high-risk animals and animals from high-risk herds. In particular, the changes are designed to ensure herds are tested on time and to reduce the movement opportunities for potentially infected cattle in order to protect clear herds from infection. For these reasons, the enhancement to the TB programme includes tighter controls on overdue tests, restriction of movement of animals from contiguous herds pending tests and restrictions on inconclusive reactors. As I said, the changes were made following a series of consultation meetings at which we took on board the concerns of the farming community. The measures are based on research which demonstrates that there are increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals.

As a result of these changes, there has been a significant reduction in both herd and animal instances of TB. Reactor numbers have fallen from 40,000 ten years ago to 18,500 last year, the lowest incidence since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. The Department is committed to maintaining its efforts to eradicate TB. There has been a great improvement in Wicklow east and west, but it is a work in progress.

Fish Quotas

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

There has been much discussion in recent months regarding the distribution of herring quota, which has been subject to review by the Department. Both the north-west herring fishery and the Celtic Sea herring fishery provide much needed employment to fishermen and factory workers, particularly in areas like Killybegs, Kincasslagh and west Donegal. The difficulty is that the criteria used by the Department to determine eligibility seem to be extremely selective. The new policy is ultimately intended to ring-fence the fishery and divide the distribution of quota north and south of the country. The proposals would effectively preclude all but two of the local pelagic vessels from the Celtic Sea fishery, fishing out of Killybegs, to avail of any level of quota. They also discriminate very negatively against the smaller vessels — less than 10 m in length — which have been fishing for herring as far back as the 1920s in Donegal and along the west coast.

The fishing opportunity in Killybegs and Kincasslagh will inevitably suffer as a consequence of these provisions. There are processing factories in both those location which provide employment to large numbers of local people. If I understand it correctly, the new policy means that vessels which participated in a fishery in 2009 or 2010 or in three of the five years between 2006 and 2010 will be allowed to enter into the new fishery in future. A large number of the boats from the west and north-west coasts participated in a fishery in 2011, bringing much needed employment to their communities. However, some of these fishermen were only returning to the Celtic Sea fishery after a number of years. These fishermen are now to be excluded completely from fishing under the new policy. The knock-on effect will be the haemorrhaging of jobs in ports such as Killybegs, which is one of the harbours under the control of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. It will also have a knock-on effect on the shipbuilding, repair and fuel industries and other local enterprises that work out of Killybegs.

My initial reaction to this is one of shock because there has been little or no consultation within the industry, particularly in the northern end of the country, on this new policy. The Department and the Minister appear to have undergone a process of scrutiny and if the policies as I have read out and the criteria as I have outlined are to be implemented, then it is a blatant attack on the fisheries of the north-west coast. It is a blatant attack on the larger vessels, the pelagic fleet and the smaller vessels — that is, boats under 10 m — many of which are operating from the offshore islands. It comes in the aftermath of new bore fishing regulations, which I will not go into now. The distribution of quota, for example, under the bore regulations, resulted in one vessel in Killybegs receiving 15% of the catch of the previous year while a vessel in Cork received 857% of the catch of the previous year. Questions must be raised here about fairness and transparency in the allocation of quota.

I hope the response tonight will be transparent and will show that decisions have not been taken without adequate consultation. The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, of which I am a member, had requested that before any decision was taken by the Minister he and his officials would appear before the committee. That did not happen. Last week our Chairman invited Department officials to come before the committee either this week or next but the response was that they did not have time and the committee would have to wait until the autumn. That sort of response is simply not good enough, which is why I am raising the matter tonight. I hope some clarity can be brought to the issue. While I appreciate that Deputy Perry does not have ministerial responsibility for this matter, as a former spokesperson in this area, I know he will understand what I am talking about. I hope the Department has provided him with a reasonable response.

Deputy John Perry

I thank the Senator for raising a very important issue. I have visited Killybegs on many occasions, and I know of the huge investment made there and the opportunities provided by the coastal waters.

There are three herring stocks of importance to the Irish fleet: the Celtic Sea herring stock, the stock found off the north west of Ireland, and the west of Scotland stock. Ireland has an 86% share of the Celtic Sea stock, 91% of the north west stock and 15% of the west of Scotland stock. Accordingly, these stocks are very important for the Irish fleet and support the fishing industry in local areas. Each year many seasonal jobs are created in the local fish processing companies. Indeed, when I was spokesperson on this issue under the last administration, the lack of support for processing was obvious. This problem has not arisen just in the last 12 months, but has been ongoing for ten years or more. Change cannot happen overnight.

In the Celtic Sea herring fishery, there was a significant collapse of stock in the 1990s. The Celtic Sea herring management advisory committee, comprising representatives of the industry and processors, with the support of the Marine Institute, developed a rebuilding plan for the stock in 2008, which has since been implemented. This plan has led to a reversal of the downward trend in the stock, and it is now being fished sustainably. The Celtic Sea herring management advisory committee has now prepared a management plan which has been submitted for evaluation to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, to support the sustainable management of this stock into the future, which is in everyone's interest. However, the success of the rebuilding plan resulted in greater pressure on the fishery from vessels that had not regularly participated in the fishery in recent years. In general, between 2006 and 2010 the number of vessels in the fishery was relatively constant. However, in 2011 the numbers doubled, which reduced the allocation for each vessel and posed a challenge to the sustainability of the fishery. Therefore, the commencement of the herring review in 2011 came at a pivotal time for the stock. In order to go forward, one must look back, and the Senator will agree that the doubling of the number of vessels participating was problematic.

The north west of Ireland herring stock faces a similar challenge. The stock has had significant cuts in the total allowable catch, TAC, in recent years, and the ICES is recommending a zero TAC unless a rebuilding plan is put in place. The Irish industry, with the support of the Marine Institute, has now introduced a rebuilding plan which is being considered by the EU pelagic regional advisory council. It is intended that this plan will be submitted to the European Commission and evaluated by the scientific, technical and economic committee. The plan may also be brought before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is hoped that the adoption and implementation of this plan will provide a roadmap for recovery of the stock. The west of Scotland herring stock is subject to a separate EU management plan and is being fished sustainably.

In 2011, the Minister asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, namely the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the north west coast and the Atlanto-Scandian stock. The objective of the review was to deliver a policy which would ensure economically and biologically sustainable fisheries. The Minister received more than 20 proposals and comments relating to herring stock management. It was clear from these documents that there was no agreement within the industry as to how future herring fishing opportunities should be managed. The Minister then asked the Department to examine the proposals received and prepare a number of options which, as far as practically possible, took the views of stakeholders into account while delivering proper and effective management.

On 22 December 2011, the Minister published a draft policy document on the matter which he believed met the objectives to the greatest extent possible. He consulted and met industry representatives regarding the draft policy and listened carefully to the views expressed. Having considered all views and bearing in mind the sustainability of the fisheries, he came to a decision which he believes provides for the proper and effective management and conservation and rational exploitation of herring stocks. The policy is based on giving access to each of the fisheries to those with a recent track record in that particular fishery. The track record provision allows access to vessels that landed a minimum of five tonnes of herring in 2009 or 2010 or in three of the five years during the period 2006 to 2010. In addition, there are some limited specified circumstances in which an earlier track record may be taken into account. The only exception to the track record provision relates to small vessels in the Dunmore area of the Celtic Sea fishery, where a small-scale local fishery is permitted in line with the rebuilding and management plan for the fishery. A modest restricted quota for smaller vessels without a track record in the Celtic Sea and Area VIa south is also permitted.

The decision was based on a clear, detailed and objective assessment of the fisheries in recent years. This policy is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the herring fisheries by limiting participation in the main fisheries to those vessels that have participated in the fishery in the five years prior to the commencement of the review, even at a low level. The Minister totally rejects the claim that the policy was in any way influenced by the geographical location of operators. The qualifying criteria for ring-fencing are independent of location and based on transparent, objective participation data. If an operator did not qualify, it was simply because that operator did not participate significantly in the fishery during the five years from 2006 to 2010.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

I have one final observation to make. I thank the Minister of State for providing the response, but, to be honest, I do not buy it. I referred to boarfish. Some 95% of all boarfish were caught in Killybegs. Track record was not taken into consideration in the distribution of quota for boarfish. Boats which had not participated previously were given a quota greatly in excess, in percentage terms, of that available to boats in Killybegs with a track record. That was one only criterion. There is a totally different criterion for herring fishing. Why is that the case? If the quota was distributed using the same criterion as that used for boarfish, at least there would be a fair distribution in Killybegs. This will impact on jobs, which will be lost. Some people working in fish factories in Donegal do not realise the implications of this decision. We can refer to the decisions of the past and what occurred five or ten years ago, but this decision was taken on the Minister's watch in the past two months. The decision, taken with the stroke of a pen, will mean families in Killybegs and people working in factories will lose their jobs. It was not taken on scientific grounds. If it had been, the Minister would have used the same template as that used for the distribution of boarfish quotas. However, it was not done on that basis and, therefore, cannot be fair. It is regrettable.

Deputy John Perry

That is rich coming from the Senator since Fianna Fáil was in government for 14 years.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

The Minister of State is in government now. A new team is in place. The Minister of State should play in his half.

Deputy John Perry

The Senator had a great opportunity to represent the fishing community, but he completely ignored Letterkenny and the rest of County Donegal.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

There is no fishing industry in Letterkenny.

Deputy John Perry

Nothing was done for the south west, Killybegs or the harbour.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

Nothing is being done now, although there is a major problem there.

Deputy John Perry

Factories were shut down by the last Government.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

No. They will be shut down now with this policy.

Deputy John Perry

There is no comparison between boarfish and herring quotas. That is based on scientific fact. The Senator can shake his head all he wishes, but the fact is that the last Administration completely neglected Killybegs for 14 years.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill

It is based on political fact.

Fuel Laundering

Senator Jim D’Arcy

Will the Minister of State outline the progress being made in combating diesel laundering? This is not a victimless crime. A good deal of revenue is being lost and people's jobs are at risk. Some legitimate dealers have had to close down because of this activity. A meeting was held with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the Department. We brought along councillors from County Louth, including councillors Jim Lennon and Martin Murnaghan, as well as council officials and received a great response. I know that the Government is determined to stamp out this activity. Has any progress been made in enforcement, the preparation or issuing of licenses and the development of a new marker? What is happening with the co-operation of the UK authorities? If these things were done, it would help a good deal. I realise that lately there has been a reduction in the amount of waste quantities recovered by Louth County Council, from 76 tonnes per month in 2011 to an average of 50 tonnes per month in 2012, but it is still high and up from 6 tonnes per month in 2009. I am keen to hear the response of the Minister of State.

Deputy John Perry

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan.

I welcome the opportunity to inform the House of the latest position on the ongoing work to combat the problem of fuel laundering and smuggling which has a significant impact. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners which has responsibility for the collection of mineral oil tax and tackling the illicit trade in mineral oil products has informed me that it is acutely aware of the threat posed by the illegal activity and tax evasion in this area. The most serious risk comes from the large-scale laundering of markers from diesel that is subject to a reduced rate of mineral oil tax on condition that it is not used in road vehicles.

Revenue collects €1.1 billion annually in excise duty from road diesel and consequently the potential for loss of tax revenue from this fraud is significant. Naturally, this is not the only cost associated with this form of criminality. It also undermines the competitiveness of legitimate businesses, damages the environment, can damage consumers' vehicles and sustains organised criminal gangs which are the prime movers in this illegality. For all of these reasons, Revenue has made action against illegal fuel-related activities one of its top corporate priorities. It is addressing the problem in the framework of a comprehensive mineral oil strategy and an action plan for 2011-12. Its key areas of activity include robust and sustained enforcement action, implementing more effective controls for oil distribution and pursuing a more effective marker. This last point was referred to by the Senator. This work is being done in conjunction with the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the United Kingdom.

Enforcement action is taken at all stages of the fuel supply chain, taking on those involved in laundering and who sell laundered fuel. Revenue is supported in this work by well established structures to ensure close co-operation between all relevant agencies north and south of the Border. The cross-Border fuel fraud group brings together representatives from several agencies, including An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, as well as the United Kingdom and Irish Revenue authorities. There has been excellent and welcome co-operation between all agencies in sharing intelligence and identifying and investigating criminals involved in this fraud.

The Senator will be pleased to note that there have been notable successes in the fight against the launderers. Between 2010 and yesterday, Revenue officers detected and closed 18 oil laundries and seized 650,000 litres of oil, together with ten oil tankers and 38 vehicles. Additionally, more than 1 million litres of fuel, held for commercial purposes, was seized during that period. I compliment everyone involved. Only this morning, Revenue enforcement officers, supported by the Garda regional support unit, uncovered an oil laundering plant near Castleblayney, County Monaghan. The laundry was in operation when Revenue officials carried out a search of the premises. It was concealed in a curtain-sided lorry situated in a commercial yard. The lorry, two 40 ft. containers, two tankers, one van and 40,000 litres of laundered product were seized. A significant quantity of toxic waste was also uncovered at the site. Three men were arrested and inquires are ongoing. The operation was the result of surveillance activity carried out by Revenue officers. I congratulate everyone involved in this major seizure.

Stringent penalties are prescribed for offences relating to mineral oil smuggling and laundering. A person convicted on indictment of an offence of evading or attempting to evade excise duty can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to five years or given a fine, or both. Following a substantial increase in the penalties introduced by the Finance Act 2010, the maximum fine is of an amount not exceeding €126,970 or, where the value of the goods is more than €250,000, an amount not exceeding three times the value of the goods. These penalty provisions permit the courts to impose sentences reflecting the seriousness of the criminal activity and serve as a deterrent from involvement in this type of crime. Notwithstanding these achievements, it is recognised that the detection and closure of all laundries will not solve the problem. Oil launderers need to be denied access to marked oil for the purposes of laundering, and they need to be denied access to the market for their laundered product.

Since this time last year, the licensing regime for road fuels has been tightened up to make it more difficult for launderers to get their product onto the market. Revenue is engaged in a vigorous campaign targeting specific locations nationwide, with the intention of immediate closure of unlicensed outlets and challenging instances of non-compliance with licence requirements. As a result, 32 filling stations were shut down by Revenue in 2011 either because they did not have a licence or were in breach of licensing conditions and a further 20 outlets have been closed to date this year. This represents real progress and this important work is continuing.

Legislative action taken in this year's Finance Act will provide improved underpinning and support for action to control and supervise the fuel supply chain and restrict the scope for illegal activity.

The previous licence for persons dealing in road fuels has been replaced by a new auto-fuel trader's licence, as and from 1 July. In addition, anyone dealing in marked diesel or marked kerosene will now, for the first time, have to be licensed for the purpose. The requirement to have a marked fuel trader's licence comes into operation with effect from 1 October.

The Revenue Commissioners are the licensing authority and will have power to refuse a licence where the applicant does not show to their satisfaction that any conditions that they may attach to the licence can be satisfied. Revenue is empowered also to revoke a licence, if the holder contravenes or fails to comply with any of its terms, or any provision of excise law relating to fuel. That is a good tightening up as well.

In parallel with the introduction of the new licensing system, the regulations that lay down the detailed rules and requirements on mineral oil matters have been reviewed by the Revenue Commissioners and new regulations, containing additional and reinforced provisions, were made last week. The requirements for record keeping have been strengthened, and a new requirement for persons dealing in fuel to make periodic returns to Revenue have been introduced. All traders, including traders in marked fuels, will have to make monthly returns, electronically, detailing their fuel transactions, including purchases. This system of returns, which will come into operation from the start of next year, will be an important new source of information on the supply chain for Revenue. It will, for example, assist in the identification of unusual or anomalous patterns of activity.

In addition, Revenue and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the UK have been working in partnership to identify a new, more effective marker. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the two authorities. A joint invitation to make submissions, IMS, seeking proposals was published in June. Both authorities are committed to seeking the widest possible range of proposals so that the most effective marker, the point Senator Jim D'Arcy made, for the future can be identified. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 30 November.

The problem of illegal activity in the fuel market is unquestionably a serious one, and the extensive enforcement action that is being carried out on an ongoing basis highlights the Government's commitment to combating it. The legislative steps that have been taken, together with the work on development of a more effective fuel marker, will provide important new support for this action and serve to enhance its effectiveness. Senators can be assured that all possible steps, with the full determination of the Minister on major cross-Border co-operation, will continue to be taken against those who involve themselves in this damaging form of criminality.

Senator Jim D’Arcy

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive report. I have not seen such as comprehensive or determined report in a long time. It reflects the Minister's attitude to the matter.

I wish to acknowledge here the presence of Councillor Oliver Tully, who has just finished his term as chairman of Louth County Council, and his wife, Eileen. Councillor Tully is very interested in this matter as well.

That is great news about Castleblayney. Like the Minister, I congratulate all those involved in that seizure. If I were faced with those penalties, I would think twice about being involved in that type of activity.

Everything promised is being delivered. One can ask for no more than that. I spoke to some legitimate oilmen who stated that activity rates have dropped a little. However, we cannot be complacent. Rust never sleeps. We must follow through fully on all of these matters.

I hope the Minister of State will come back here, perhaps in three or four months, to give us a further report. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. He deserves an A plus.

Deputy John Perry

I acknowledge the presence of Councillor Tully and his wife, Eileen, as well and compliment him on his outstanding service.

Senator Jim D'Arcy has a deep interest in this, representing small business which is the backbone of the economy. For every action of criminality, there is a serious reaction and consequences in the closure of small companies, whether they be suppliers, retailers or others. There is a solid determination that we must ensure that criminality is stamped out.

A comprehensive reply is what Seanad Éireann is entitled to get. There was a major seizure and this was a timely debate. Senator Jim D'Arcy has been concerned about this over some time since he was elected to Seanad Éireann. His concern has brought this to the House and the Minister is determined to ensure that the actions taken by Revenue and the Garda Síochána, in co-operation with Her Majesty's service in the UK, will be continued. By 30 November, they will have a unified marker that will go a long way towards minimising the problem even further. I am delighted Senator Jim D'Arcy raised this topical issue today.

Acting Chairman (Senator Michael Mullins)

We can report significant progress has been achieved. I join in the welcome to Councillor Tully and his good wife.

The Seanad adjourned at 7.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 July 2012.