19 Nov 2012, 13:37
Damien English TD, Chairman of the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, chaired a committee hearing in Waterford on the 19th November 2012 on the issue of the black market in Ireland.
Deputy English said: “It is becoming clear that major organised crime is no longer something which is confined to the bigger cities such as Dublin, Limerick and Cork. We heard today that Waterford itself has the highest rate of illicit cigarette consumption in Ireland at 45%.
“The black market destroys sales and makes jobs more vulnerable, undermining the gains made from job creation schemes. As Chairman of the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation I take the threat of the black market very seriously. It has been estimated by Retail Ireland that the black market is costing the exchequer €860 million annually while it endangers jobs in legitimate, tax paying retailers. In various areas such as fuel laundering, sales of illegal tobacco and alcohol, counterfeit medicine and goods and entertainment piracy retailers are losing legitimate income as criminals move in for a quick killing. The black market destroys sales and makes jobs more vulnerable.
“It’s clear that the consequences of the illegal trade in Ireland go well beyond losses to the taxpayer and the ordinary retailer, and its contribution to funding dissident paramilitaries is a very serious and worrying development that we must confront.
“As someone who has made a living through a small business in the past I am well aware of the difficulties faced by employers in the SME sector and intend to do everything I can to protect small retail businesses like the local corner newsagents from the pernicious effects of black market criminality.
“We heard today from a number of retailers who cited taxation and regulation as well as consumer awareness as being a number of areas, which if supported by the redeployment of resources, could help reduce the black market problem in Ireland. One of the suggestions this committee will look at is to have a cross departmental approach on taxation and regulations which have an impact on the 260,000 retail jobs in this country, such as restrictions on cigarette branding or amending the diesel subsidy.”
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Houses of the Oireachtas,
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Committee Membership
Deputies: Dara Calleary, Áine Collins, Michael Conaghan, Damien English (Chair), John Halligan, Seán Kyne, Anthony Lawlor, John Lyons (Vice-Chair) and Peadar Tóibín.
Senators: Deirdre Clune, David Cullinane, John Kelly, Michael Mullins, Feargal Quinn and Mary White