Emer Higgins
Question:333. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the number of Revenue Commissioners staff assigned to anti-smuggling activities, across all areas of illicit trade, in each of the past ten years. [48611/23]
View answerTuesday, 7 November 2023
Questions (333)
Written answers
Revenue is a fully integrated tax and customs administration and, as a result, I am advised that it is not possible to disaggregate the resources deployed at any given time to combat smuggling activities.
Over the last ten years, Revenue has had approximately 2,000 staff engaged on activities that are directly dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance, in all its forms. These front-line activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection. I am advised that Revenue adopts a flexible approach to the deployment of resources allocated to these different aspects of enforcement and compliance work and resource levels are adjusted and realigned in response to evolving business needs and emerging or changing risks.
Revenue takes an integrated approach to combatting all forms of illegal trade and shadow economy activity. I am advised that Revenue’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 includes a commitment to confronting non-compliance, including a continued focus on smuggling and illegal activity. This commitment is given operational priority each year through Revenue’s business planning and delivery framework having regard to risk and trends and developments within illegal trades and the modus operandi of those involved. Revenue’s actions under these operational plans are designed to maximise coordination and efficiency Revenue-wide and deliver optimal impact for the effort involved and resources deployed.
I am satisfied that Revenue accords an appropriate and consistent priority to the tackling of smuggling across all forms of illicit trade. This Government will continue its strong support in ensuring that Revenue has the necessary resources, including a robust legislative regime, to fulfil its mandate in this regard.