Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2011

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Questions (371)

Gerald Nash

Question:

403 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the past behaviour of the tobacco industry and its continued opposition to public health measures brought forward by successive Governments to prevent death and disability form tobacco, and our obligations under section 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, his views whether it is appropriate for the Garda Commissioner to be contributing to a tobacco industry report on tobacco smuggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26159/11]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

It is a well recognised crime trend across many jurisdictions that the practice of tobacco smuggling is widely used by organised crime groups as a means of generating large amounts of criminal gains. This situation applies equally in this jurisdiction. I understand that the contribution of the Garda Commissioner to the report in question on tobacco smuggling relates exclusively to tobacco smuggling from a law enforcement perspective and is one of a number of contributions from persons involved in law enforcement. It is, of course, a matter for the Garda Commissioner to take whatever measures he believes will assist in the efforts to counteract organised crime and I do not accept that the contribution in question gives rise to the type of issues outlined by the Deputy.