Brendan Smith urges action on illicit tobacco factories and harms
Brendan Smith warned about the spread of illicit tobacco and related cross-border fuel crimes, urging action to protect public health and communities. He referenced Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick's remarks and recent reports of large-scale raw tobacco seizures and called for resources for the Revenue Commissioners.
Illicit tobacco in communities
Brendan Smith raised concerns about illegal tobacco products being sold door to door in housing estates and the harm those products are doing to people's health.
Border fuel crime and business damage
He recalled damage in the border area from the washing of diesel and the stretching of petrol, saying gangs inflicted damage on vehicles and legitimate businesses.
Seizures and alleged factories
Mr Smith said he had recently heard of seizures of large scale raw tobacco and suggested that such seizures would indicate the existence of a factory of factories manufacturing illegal cigarettes.
Call for Revenue resources and health focus
He asked the Tánaiste for an assurance that the Revenue Commissioners will have the resources to tackle these scourges, emphasising the monetary gains being made over the health of innocent people.
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Thank you very much, I would also refer to what Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick said about the illegal tobacco product that is prevalent in so many communities, unfortunately, and I have heard of people going door to door in some housing estates selling these illicit products, and we could imagine the damage that that is doing to human beings. In the border area we had enough of damage done to vehicles and to legitimate businesses by the washing of diesel and the stretching of petrol, with those gangs and criminals who inflicted so much damage on our communities, and Tanaiste, recently I heard that there were seizures of large scale raw tobacco, if that happened then that would indicate that there is a factory of factories manufacturing this illegal cigarettes. So, Tanaiste, I would like to get an assurance that the Revenue Commissioners will have the resources to tackle such scourges when we think of the damage that is being done to people's health by this illicit product, and people making monetary gains over the health of innocent people. Thank you, I can call that.
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