Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016
189. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 8 December 2015, if he is satisfied with the resources deployed by the Customs and Excise Service in the detection of drugs, given the significant decrease in the detection of drugs in the midlands-west region since 2009 as alluded to in his earlier reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46452/15]
View answerI am satisfied that Revenue is very active in the area of targeting and combatting drugs smuggling and is committed to playing an active role, in conjunction with other relevant agencies, in working against this criminal activity and those responsible for it. The Deputy will be aware from my reply to his previous Question in this matter that Revenue has an enforcement presence at all key airports and ports and at other strategic locations throughout the country, including the Border, Midlands, West Region. Revenue place particular emphasis on developing an intelligence-based focus at both national and regional level, deploying resources to areas of highest risk. Enforcement strength is augmented with additional personnel on a risk-assessment basis, or when particular operations are taking place against illegal activity.
I am advised by Revenue that variations in the detection of drugs must be considered against, inter alia, changes in arrangements and locations of post and parcels arriving into the State in recent years and also in the pattern of direct flights into particular locations in the State from areas that might be regarded as higher risk.
