Written Answers Nos. 126-141
126. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41984/18]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”). This Act provides, among other things, that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister must be satisfied as to the identity of the person.
Under the Act, the Minister may require an applicant to provide such information or documents as required to establish his or her identity.
On 1 October 2018 the Passport Service wrote to this applicant with an update on their application.
127. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the grants provided to sports and cultural clubs in the United States of America over the past ten years; the details of these clubs; the amount received by year; the criteria for grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42062/18]
View answerThe Emigrant Support Programme has been in operation since 2004. In the period to date over €34 million has been allocated to organisations in the United States of America. Most of the grants for 2018 have been announced but decisions on a small number of grants have yet to be finalised and these will be communicated to the organisations involved in the coming weeks.
The Deputy has enquired specifically as to the amount of money allocated to sports and culture clubs in in America over the past ten years. The total amount provided in grants in these specific areas in the United States of America, including the amounts granted to date in 2018, is €6,147,839. A detailed breakdown of the individual grants made will be sent separately to the Deputy by my office.
Information on Emigrant Support Programme grants for the United States and for all other countries is uploaded on the Department’s website annually and may be found at the following link: https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/support-overseas/emigrant-support-programme/previous-funding/
128. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Good Friday Agreement. [41067/18]
View answerThe Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships – within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland, and between the UK and Ireland.
The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the programme for partnership Government.
Since the Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. The absence of the Executive also means that that North South Ministerial Council cannot meet.
I am currently engaging with the Secretary of State, Karen Bradley on how both Governments can most effectively secure the effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
In the period ahead, I believe a new political process is required to get beyond the current impasse and secure the necessary agreement between the parties on operating the devolved institutions again. I do not underestimate the way to go in achieving that, but I firmly believe that a resolution is possible and that the calls from across all sections of the community in Northern Ireland for the devolved institutions to operate will be heeded.
A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place on 25 July to discuss issues of mutual interest to the Irish and British Governments, in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. The conference discussed legacy issues, security co-operation, east-west bilateral issues and political stability in Northern Ireland. A date for the next meeting of the conference is currently being considered.
Regarding the UK decision to leave the European Union, the Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and the gains and benefits of the peace process, are protected for people on the island of Ireland, North and South. The Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns and is continuing to engage intensively in the article 50 process, to ensure the protection of the Good Friday Agreement.
In terms of outstanding commitments, the Government continues to support a statutory basis for the Irish language in Northern Ireland, as envisaged under the St Andrews Agreement. Respect for linguistic diversity and the Irish language are important elements of the Good Friday Agreement.
As reflected in the programme for partnership Government, the Government also remains supportive of, and continues to advocate for, the advancement of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The continued value of a bill of rights in the context of Brexit was one of the themes which emerged from the all island civic dialogue sectoral on human rights under the Good Friday Agreement which the Government convened in February 2017.
A North South consultative forum is a further important outstanding element envisaged under the Good Friday Agreement, and the Government has continued to pursue this, including by maintaining the issue on the North South Ministerial Council in recent years.
The Government views as a solemn responsibility our role and mandate as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We will spare no effort to fulfil our duty as co-guarantor, including to seek the effective operation of all of its institutions, ensure that the agreement is protected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and working for the implementation of outstanding commitments. The Government will continue this work, in co-operation with the British Government and engaging with all of the political parties in Northern Ireland.
129. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated ODA/GNI target in view of budget 2019 and the increased allocation to overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42250/18]
View answerThe Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and to its place at the heart of foreign policy. For 2019, the Government has allocated almost €817 million for Official Development Assistance, ODA. This level of allocation represents an increase of approximately €110 million – or 16% on the revised 2018 budget allocation.
The total amount of ODA which Ireland will invest during 2019 is now the highest since the financial crisis, a mark of the restoration of the economy. 2019 is the fifth consecutive year the Government has increased allocations to ODA. By comparison, in 2015 the ODA allocation amounted to just under €650 million.
In his budget speech, the Minister for Finance said that "at 0.31 per cent of GNI*, this level of assistance represents a clear statement that this Government and the Irish people will not be found wanting in addressing some of the major humanitarian crises and development challenges our planet faces". The ODA/GNI* % depends on the allocation to total ODA and forecasted GNI*. Despite the increase in ODA allocation over the last few years, the strong performance of the Irish economy and the resulting growth in GNI levels can have a significant dampening effect on the ODA/GNI %.
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the moneys allocated in budget 2019 to his Department for Brexit related matters; the way in which these moneys will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42251/18]
View answerBudget 2019, published last week, continues the process of ensuring that Ireland’s economy remains competitive and resilient and ready to deal with the challenges of Brexit.
In my Department, an additional €18 million has been allocated, primarily for Brexit-related expenditure, in 2019 under Vote 28. Having already posted additional senior personnel to Berlin, Paris, London and Brussels, this will enable us to continue to strengthen our teams in other key EU capitals including The Hague, Warsaw, Madrid and Rome, as well as other parts of our European network.
Further funding is being earmarked for the Passport Service, which has seen a notable increase in demand for Irish passports from Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and Great Britain since the UK voted to leave the EU. Over 20% of total passport applications for 2017 came from these jurisdictions with more than 82,000 applications being received from Northern Ireland and almost 81,000 from Great Britain. This represented increases of 20% and 28% respectively on 2016 applications.
Additional funding is also being made available to support essential reconciliation work being carried out by civil society in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland – work that is more urgent because of Brexit and the continuing absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.
Our Vote 28 allocation will also help us to begin delivering on our ‘Global Ireland’ vision of an expanded international footprint for the post-Brexit world. This expanded presence will extend our support to Irish businesses in search of new markets.
That’s why we will be opening offices in Mumbai, Frankfurt and LA, and new embassies in Chile and Colombia in 2019. It will also help us sustain close relations across the UK after Brexit, with a new Consulate in Cardiff next year.
In 2019 we will also take forward work on a new Embassy and Ireland House in Tokyo that will project the very best Ireland has to offer in one location. This is a major development, one of the most complex that we have ever undertaken overseas and a signal of the potential and opportunities that we can tap into in the Irish-Japanese relationship.
This strengthened support for trade diversification is a crucial component to our Brexit response. In 2019, this will also include stepped-up preparations for Expo 2020 in Dubai - a major platform for Ireland internationally in a region with huge trade and investment potential for Ireland.
Finally, the Government’s Getting Ireland Brexit Ready public information campaign is an important ongoing whole of Government initiative in helping prepare citizens and businesses for Brexit. As part of this wider campaign, the Government is organising “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public outreach events around Ireland.
The inaugural event was held in Cork on Friday, 5 October, with last Friday’s event held in Galway. Two further events will take place over the coming weeks in Monaghan, on 19 October, and Dublin, on 25 October.
The events bring together a dozen Agencies and their parent Departments – the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - under one roof to inform and advise citizens and businesses about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and resources the Government has put in place.
131. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the disappearance and possible assassination of a person (details supplied) in Turkey; the steps Ireland is taking to ensure the Saudi Arabian and Turkish authorities carry out a transparent investigation of the disappearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42343/18]
View answer132. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will raise the case of the suspected murder of this person by agents of the Saudi regime with his Saudi counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42344/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
I am aware of media reports of the case of the disappearance of this person as raised by the Deputies. If these reports are proved correct, they are extremely concerning.
I support calls for an urgent and comprehensive investigation of the disappearance of the person in question, and for calls that this investigation be fully supported by the Saudi Arabian authorities. We call on the Saudi Government to be fully transparent about the results of any investigation into this case.
My officials have expressed my concerns about this matter, and communicated Ireland’s full support for an investigation, to the Saudi Ambassador to Ireland.
133. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the €110 million increase in overseas development assistance will be spent; the programmes that will receive part of the €45 million increase in Irish Aid; and the type of spending that makes up the rest of the €65 million increase in ODA spend. [42345/18]
View answerFor 2019, the Government has allocated almost €817 million for official development assistance, ODA. This level of allocation represents an increase of approximately €110 million – or 16% on the revised 2018 budget allocation.
Of this, €544.9 million will be managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, whose Vote 27 – International Co-operation – is known publicly as Irish Aid. The allocation to Vote 27 has been increased by €44 million, or almost 9% on last year’s allocation. This will be taken into account in the detailed programme budget planning cycle for Irish Aid in 2019 that will take place before year end. Part of this allocation will be used to meet recent commitments made at the UN General Assembly including increased allocations to education in development, to humanitarian assistance and to peace building.
A further estimated €272 million will be managed through other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Co-operation Budget. This represents an increase of €65 million on 2018.
By far the largest component of this element of ODA is our share of the EU development cooperation budget which has grown significantly over the past few years and will continue to do so in 2019. In addition the Department of Finance will oversee Ireland joining the African Development Bank in 2019.
There are also increased allocations to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who manage Ireland’s partnerships with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Other programmes receiving increases are managed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and the Revenue Commissioners.
134. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which a passport application can be made by a person (details supplied) in a country in which there is no Irish consulate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42448/18]
View answerThe Passport Service offers a range of channels for submission of passport applications by Irish citizens, at home and abroad.
In this particular case, the applicants' guardians should contact the Irish Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to arrange for the submission of the relevant documentation to authorise the consent of guardians for these passport applications.
All applications must comply with the terms of the Passports Act, 2008
Contact details for the embassy can be found here: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/saudi-arabia/contact-us/
135. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the review of the White Paper on Ireland's international development policy will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42542/18]
View answerThe Government has committed to publishing a new White Paper on Ireland’s international development policy. The intention is to publish the document before the end of the year.
The development of the new policy is being led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in close consultation with other Departments. While the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade leads on Ireland’s bilateral development programme at least one third of Ireland’s ODA is provided by other Government Departments.
A comprehensive internal and external consultation process to help develop the new policy, in line with the public consultation guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has now concluded. This process included a preliminary consultation paper, following which submissions were received from across Government and the Embassy network. A series of workshops took place involving invited external experts and the support of consultants to facilitate detailed discussions.
Building on this input, a public consultation element was launched on 12 July. Over 185 substantive written submissions were received in response to a public consultation paper. Another 14,000 emails expressing support for the aid programme were received. "Townhall" meetings were held in Cork, Galway, Sligo and Limerick, with the public consultation phase ending on 2 October with the final public meeting in Dublin.
The various inputs received are now being synthesised and together with research, analysis and assessments of the wider global environment will be used to develop the new policy.
136. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff in his Department and in bodies under his aegis appointed to the principal officer grade arising from internal competitions since 7 July 2015, by year. [41865/18]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that since 7 July 2015 six staff members have been promoted to Principal from internal competitions as follows:
|
Year |
Male |
Female |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
3 |
0 |
|
2017 |
0 |
1 |
|
2018 to date |
1 |
1 |
In addition three staff were promoted to Principal from open competitions and assigned to my Department and a further eleven staff transferred out to other Departments on promotion to Principal.
All appointments comply with the "Recruitment and Selection Policy - Guidelines in the Department of Finance” and are conducted in accordance with the code of practice published by the Commission for Public Service Appointments to ensure:
- Probity (a morally just, honest process is carried out with integrity)
- Appointments are made on merit
- An appointments process is in line with best practice
- A fair appointments process is applied with consistency
- Appointments are made in an open, accountable and transparent manner.
Of the 17 bodies under the aegis of my Department, 15 have not appointed staff to the Principal Officer grade from internal competitions since 7 July 2015. It should be noted that most of these bodies do not employ staff in civil service grades.
The two remaining bodies are the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Since 7 July 2015, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has appointed three staff to the level of Deputy Director of Audit (Principal Officer level) from internal competitions. These three appointments were made in 2015.
Ten appointments to the grade of Principal Officer have been made in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners from internal competitions since 7 July 2015. Three were appointed in 2015, two each in 2016 and 2017 and three have been appointed to date in 2018.
137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the annual increases in the retail price of different categories of packets of 20 cigarettes since 1990; the portion of the increase related to taxes; the portion of the increase due to price rises by the tobacco industry, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41923/18]
View answer138. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the revenue raised from tobacco product tax by product type in each of the years 2007 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41924/18]
View answer139. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the clearance data for roll-your-own tobacco products cleared from tax warehouses in each of the years 2007 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41925/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together.
In response to Question No. 137, I am advised by Revenue that the available information is the tax changes and the trade increases to the most popular price category, MPPC, for a 20 pack of cigarettes during the period 1990 to date. The information is set out in the following table and is displayed in cents.
|
Budget Day |
Pre-Budget MPPC |
Tax Increase |
Post-Budget MPPC |
Excise Duty |
Total Tax (inc VAT) |
Trade increase during year |
|
31-Jan-90 |
251.41 |
- |
251.41 |
137.7 |
185.25 |
|
|
01-Mar-90 |
251.15 |
-4.83 |
246.33 |
136.75 |
182.84 |
-0.26 |
|
30-Jan-91 |
253.95 |
12.70 |
266.64 |
148.18 |
198.08 |
7.62 |
|
29-Jan-92 |
272.99 |
20.32 |
293.31 |
169.64 |
220.55 |
6.35 |
|
24-Feb-93 |
294.58 |
12.70 |
307.28 |
178.14 |
229.31 |
1.27 |
|
26-Jan-94 |
313.63 |
10.16 |
323.78 |
189.70 |
245.95 |
6.35 |
|
08-Feb-95 |
332.67 |
15.24 |
347.91 |
191.22 |
249.00 |
8.89 |
|
23-Jan-96 |
352.99 |
12.70 |
365.68 |
215.09 |
278.58 |
5.08 |
|
22-Jan-97 |
370.76 |
8.89 |
379.65 |
216.01 |
280.35 |
5.08 |
|
03-Dec-97 |
374.57 |
12.70 |
387.27 |
222.48 |
300.19 |
-5.08 |
|
02-Dec-98 |
392.35 |
6.35 |
398.70 |
239.10 |
308.31 |
5.08 |
|
01-Dec-99 |
405.05 |
63.49 |
468.53 |
292.67 |
373.99 |
6.35 |
|
01-Jan-01 |
477.42 |
- |
477.42 |
297.61 |
377.18 |
8.89 |
|
05-Dec-01 |
487.58 |
12.70 |
500.28 |
310.10 |
393.47 |
10.16 |
|
04-Dec-02 |
521.00 |
50.00 |
571.00 |
355.28 |
454.38 |
20.72 |
|
03-Dec-03 |
587.00 |
25.00 |
612.00 |
378.90 |
485.11 |
16.00 |
|
01-Dec-04 |
625.00 |
- |
625.00 |
381.28 |
489.75 |
13.00 |
|
07-Dec-05 |
635.00 |
- |
635.00 |
383.11 |
493.32 |
10.00 |
|
06-Dec-06 |
655.00 |
50.00 |
705.00 |
428.09 |
550.44 |
20.00 |
|
05-Dec-07 |
715.00 |
30.00 |
745.00 |
454.64 |
583.94 |
10.00 |
|
14-Oct-08 |
755.00 |
50.00 |
805.00 |
497.75 |
637.46 |
10.00 |
|
07-Apr-09 |
810.00 |
25.00 |
835.00 |
519.23 |
666.98 |
2.30 |
|
09-Dec-09 |
845.00 |
- |
845.00 |
521.05 |
670.58 |
10.00 |
|
01-Oct-10 |
855.00 |
- |
855.00 |
522.88 |
671.27 |
10.00 |
|
06-Dec-11 |
865.00 |
25.00 |
890.00 |
545.35 |
699.81 |
10.00 |
|
01-Jan-12 |
890.00 |
910.00 |
548.95 |
719.12 |
1.68 |
|
|
05-Dec-12 |
920.00 |
10.00 |
930.00 |
557.50 |
731.40 |
10.00 |
|
01-May-13 |
940.00 |
- |
940.00 |
558.38 |
734.15 |
10.00 |
|
16-Oct-13 |
940.00 |
10.00 |
950.00 |
566.50 |
744.14 |
- |
|
01-Apr-14 |
960.00 |
- |
960.00 |
567.37 |
746.88 |
10.00 |
|
14-Oct-14 |
960.00 |
40.00 |
1,000.0 |
599.88 |
786.87 |
- |
|
13-Oct-15 |
1,000.00 |
50.00 |
1,050.0 |
640.52 |
836.86 |
- |
|
01-May-16 |
1,080.00 |
1,080.0 |
643.28 |
845.23 |
30.00 |
|
|
16-Oct-16 |
1,050.00 |
50.00 |
1,130.0 |
684.02 |
895.32 |
|
|
01-May-17 |
1,150.00 |
1,150.0 |
685.92 |
900.96 |
20.00 |
|
|
10-Oct-17 |
1,150.00 |
50.00 |
1,200.0 |
726.56 |
950.95 |
- |
|
01-May-18 |
1,220.00 |
1,220.0 |
728.37 |
956.50 |
20.00 |
|
|
10-Oct-18 |
1,220.00 |
50.00 |
1,270.0 |
769.01 |
1,006.49 |
- |
*Figures included in the table may be subject to rounding and a degree of estimation, in particular for earlier years.
I am also informed by Revenue that an analysis of the incidence of duty and VAT per packet of 20 cigarettes from 2003 to 2017 is available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-duty-vat.aspx.
In relation to question No. 138, I am advised by Revenue that the revenue raised from Tobacco Product Tax for the period 2003 to 2017 for cigarettes and other tobacco products is available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-receipts-commodity.aspx. A breakdown of the receipts for other tobacco products is available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-other-tobacco.aspx.
Receipts for 2018 (up to September 2018) are provided in the following table. These figures are provisional and may be subject to revision.
|
Year |
Cigarettes |
Fine Cut Tobacco |
Cigars |
Other Smoking |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
2018 (to Sep) |
235.0 |
40.5 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
In response to question No.139, I am advised by Revenue that clearance data for "roll your own" tobacco products, Fine Cut Tobacco, for the years 2003 to 2017 are published on the Revenue website at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-volumes-commodity.aspx. The provisional clearances for the period January to August 2018 are 150,294 kg.
140. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb tobacco smuggling in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41926/18]
View answer142. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb the illegal importation of psychoactive substances since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41928/18]
View answer143. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number and total weight of psychoactive substances seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41929/18]
View answer144. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number and total weight of narcotic drugs seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41930/18]
View answer145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb the illegal importation of narcotic drugs since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41931/18]
View answer146. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number of illegal firearms seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41932/18]
View answer147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb the illegal importation of firearms since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/18]
View answer148. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number of illegal bullets seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41934/18]
View answer149. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb the illegal importation of bullets since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41935/18]
View answer150. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number of offensive weapons seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41936/18]
View answer151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided to curb the illegal importation of offensive weapons since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41937/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 142 to 151, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of seizures by Revenue of psychoactive substances, narcotic drugs, illegal firearms and offensive weapons is set out in the following tables.
I am advised by Revenue that firearms, offensive weapons and bullets are recorded as a single category in their records of seizures and that it would not be practicable given the overall volume of seizures and the period involved, to provide disaggregated data for particular elements of that category.
I am also advised by Revenue that it is a fully integrated tax and customs administration and that it is not possible to disaggregate the resources deployed at any given time to detect and prevent the smuggling of particular types of objects or commodities. I understand Revenue is satisfied that, having regard to its overall level of resources, it has the resources to tackle smuggling of the kinds to which the Deputy refers. I remain open to discussing with Revenue any requirements that they may have about resources in the future to maximise their effectiveness in combatting smuggling.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of seizures by Revenue of psychoactive substances, narcotic drugs, illegal firearms and offensive weapons is set out in the following tables.
Drugs
|
Year |
Cannabis (Herbal & Resin) |
Cocaine & Heroin |
Amphetamines, Ecstasy & Other |
|||
|
No. of Seizures |
Weight (KG) |
No. of Seizures |
Weight (KG) |
No. of Seizures |
Weight (KG) |
|
|
2017 |
1,066 |
3,100 |
136 |
27 |
4,862 |
565 |
|
2016 |
1,222 |
940.7 |
134 |
171.7 |
4,641 |
565.3 |
|
2015 |
1,024 |
626 |
92 |
95.4 |
3,710 |
655.8 |
|
2014 |
505 |
672.9 |
72 |
1,049.2 |
5,581 |
475.3 |
|
2013 |
724 |
600.1 |
116 |
51.1 |
5,690 |
340.8 |
|
2012 |
1,814 |
1,477 |
85 |
469 |
6,307 |
183 |
|
2011 |
2,378 |
1,384.88 |
65 |
153.26 |
6,630 |
1,063.17 |
|
2010 |
1,353 |
265.78 |
50 |
38.61 |
5,332 |
226.81 |
|
2009 |
2,174 |
3,446 |
40 |
34 |
6,001 |
456.33 |
|
2008 |
2,456 |
3,655.67 |
78 |
1,615.27 |
4,133 |
126.98 |
|
2007 |
2,049 |
1,820.85 |
66 |
1,640.69 |
643 |
901.47 |
|
2006 |
1,381 |
156.57 |
64 |
61.641 |
78 |
473.33 |
|
2005 |
1,077 |
3,963.92 |
48 |
63.349 |
98 |
373.009 |
Illegal Firearms and Offensive Weapons (data provided for years for which comparable data is available)
|
Year |
Number of illegal firearms / offensive weapons |
|
2017 |
835 |
|
2016 |
1,786 |
|
2015 |
4,702 |
|
2014 |
346 |
|
2013 |
2,443 |
|
2012 |
522 |
|
2011 |
1,220 |
|
2010 |
224 |
|
2009 |
1,162 |
|
2008 |
654 |
|
2007 |
1,777 |
141. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the number of cigarettes seized by customs in each year since 2005, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41927/18]
View answer152. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the sum saved in each year since 2005 due to successful tobacco seizures in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41938/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 152 together.
Regarding question No. 141, I am advised by Revenue that the number of cigarettes seized by Revenue in each year since 2005 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Quantity (million) |
|
2005 |
51.3 |
|
2006 |
52.3 |
|
2007 |
75.5 |
|
2008 |
135.2 |
|
2009 |
218.5 |
|
2010 |
178.4 |
|
2011 |
109.1 |
|
2012 |
95.6 |
|
2013 |
40.8 |
|
2014 |
53.4 |
|
2015 |
67.9 |
|
2016 |
44.6 |
|
2017 |
34.2 |
|
2018* |
50.9 |
*to 30 September 2018
Regarding question No. 151, Revenue has confirmed that the Excise Duty and VAT payable on tobacco seized in each year since 2005 is as outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
Total Tax (Excise Duty & VAT) €million |
|
2005 |
12.9 |
|
2006 |
14.8 |
|
2007 |
20.8 |
|
2008 |
40.2 |
|
2009 |
76.2 |
|
2010 |
56.9 |
|
2011 |
35.7 |
|
2012 |
35.9 |
|
2013 |
16.2 |
|
2014 |
23.2 |
|
2015 |
28.0 |
|
2016 |
19.2 |
|
2017 |
16.3 |
|
*2018 |
24.9 |
*to 30 September 2018
