asked the Minister for Finance if he will abolish the customs request system which imposes a charge of 2/- on a motorist for each crossing of the frontier inside certain specified hours.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abolition of Border Charge.
I regret that for reasons of revenue security and expense, I cannot accede to the Deputy's request.
Is the Minister aware that this request system is having a bad effect on tourist traffic at the moment and will have a very adverse effect on tourist traffic during the coming year? I understand also that the revenue received from such requests is very small.
The revenue received from requests does two things: it goes to recompense us for the expenditure we have to incur when people wish to pass over the Border after official hours and, from the security point of view, the request system is of great value because it indicates to us whether or not motors are bona fide in the vicinity of the Border.