872. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether Revenue has identified particular towns, road corridors or entry points in the Border region where illicit roll-your-own tobacco activity is concentrated; the additional actions being directed toward these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2184/26]
873. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of illicit tobacco manufacturing facilities, including any roll-your-own production sites, that have been detected or dismantled in the Border region over the past five years; the quantities of product seized in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2187/26]
874. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the resources currently allocated to Revenue for the enforcement of controls on illicit roll-your-own tobacco, including staffing levels, specialist units and detection technology; if any additional measures are planned to strengthen enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2188/26]
875. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total number of individual custom inspections conducted on incoming air and sea passengers at each individual port and airport in the State, in each of the years 2019 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2189/26]
876. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way in which Revenue will track the implementation of the new regulation on the seizure of tobacco from passengers found to be carrying in excess of duty-free limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2190/26]
877. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide data for 2025 on the number of cigarette and tobacco seizures carried out by the Revenue Commissioners; the location of each seizure; the volume and value of each seizure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2191/26]
878. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of fines issued by the courts for offences related to tobacco smuggling and its illicit sale in each of the years 2023 to 2025, the number of fines that were paid and remain unpaid for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2192/26]
879. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners, working on a multi-agency basis with An Garda Síochána and others, have identified any links between illicit roll-your-own tobacco activity and organised crime networks; the extent of such involvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2305/26]
880. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if Revenue has identified any increase in the sale of illicit roll-your-own tobacco via online platforms or social media; the enforcement tools available to address this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2366/26]

Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance: I propose to take Questions Nos. 872 to 878, inclusive, 884 and 885 together.

I am assured by Revenue of its commitment to targeting the illicit tobacco trade. Revenue implements a range of measures to identify and target illicit manufacturing facilities, and the smuggling, supply or sale of illicit tobacco products, with a view to disrupting the supply chain, seizing the products and, where possible, prosecuting those involved. Revenue’s strategy involves developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international level, the use of analytics and detection technologies and ensuring the optimum deployment of resources.

In relation to the Border regions, I am assured by Revenue that it continues to apply optimum deployment of resources on a risk-focused basis, having regard to ongoing risk assessment of smuggling and criminal activities. I am advised that for operational reasons, specifics on towns, locations, etc. cannot be publicly disclosed.

In relation to the number of illicit tobacco manufacturing sites, Revenue has confirmed that they have identified and dismantled two of these sites since 2021.

I am advised that there was no presence of illicit roll your own (RYO) tobacco in the production sites mentioned above, nor was there any non-tobacco materials identified, such as branded packaging for roll your own tobacco. This suggests that these sites were not producing roll your own tobacco.

Turning to the question of resources, there are over 900 staff assigned across our ports, airports and mail centres as well as national profiling and risk assessment units and inland teams, dedicated to the enforcement of controls not just of illicit roll-your-own tobacco but also ensuring the protection and integrity of customs controls in relation to all excisable products.

In addition to the above, Revenue utilises 25 detector dog teams deployed at airports, ports, and mail centres nationwide. The Revenue detector dogs play a vital role in Revenue’s mission to combat illicit tobacco activities, and they are an integral part of Revenue’s broader enforcement strategy together with intelligence gathering and scan technology. I am advised that in 2025 to-date, Revenue has procured in total five baggage X-ray systems to be deployed at Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, Kerry Airport and Cork Airport. Revenue also procured another handheld X-ray system bringing its current capacity of handheld scanners to eight.

In addition to this, as part of the redevelopment of Rosslare Europort, a new high energy X-ray gantry system was deployed in October 2025. This is the first high energy X-ray gantry system to be deployed in the State and will be used to scan containerised freight and vehicles as required.

Revenue has also sought and received funding to procure a specialised backscatter van in 2026. This is in addition to the current backscatter van based in Dublin Port. A backscatter van is a low power X-ray scanner mounted in a standard van that is used to scan vehicles, trailers and other light vehicles.

Revenue operational requirements are kept under continuous review, having regard to ongoing risk evaluation and evolving operational needs. I am advised that Revenue has the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate in respect of functions that are critical for its effective functioning as a tax and customs administration, and I remain open to considering any proposals from Revenue for additional resources that will support its work.

In relation to the total number of individual custom inspections conducted on incoming air and sea passengers at each individual port and airport in the State, officers based at the points of entry into the State carry out checks targeting a variety of risks. I am advised that Revenue record the number and details of detections rather than the number of passengers inspected.

While Revenue’s role is the administration of tax law, effective enforcement of tobacco duties supports Ireland’s public-health aims by limiting access to untaxed and cheap tobacco. This strengthens the impact of Ireland’s broader tobacco-control measures.

Revenue has achieved considerable success in tackling the smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco products in 2025. The number of seizures of both cigarettes and tobacco in 2025 is 7,042. It is not possible from an administrative perspective to provide a list of each individual seizure, but Revenue advises that there were total seizures of almost 47m. cigarettes seized in 2025 valued at €42.5m and 23,673kg of tobacco seized valued at €21m. Revenue issues regular press releases in relation to the larger seizures, which include volumes, value and location.

I am advised by Revenue that it cannot provide data in relation to the number of fines related to tobacco smuggling and its illicit sale that have been paid, and those that remain unpaid, as collection of fines and data in relation to same are administered by the Courts Service.

The smuggling of tobacco products has a transnational and cross border dimension and in addition to Revenue’s ongoing cooperation with An Garda Síochána in this area, Revenue also works closely with its counterparts in other jurisdictions including colleagues in Northern Ireland through the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), to address cross-border smuggling and dismantle organised crime networks involved in the illegal tobacco market.

The JATF promotes real-time collaboration between Revenue and HMRC in efforts to disrupt the activities of organised crime groups involved in serious excise fraud.

I am satisfied that Revenue is very conscious of the threat that tobacco smuggling, and the sale of illicit tobacco products poses to health, to legitimate business interests and to the Exchequer. I commend Revenue and all the relevant State agencies for their work in this important area and I am satisfied that there is an appropriate focus on tackling this form of criminality.

Question No. 873 answered with Question No. 872.

Question No. 874 answered with Question No. 872.

Question No. 875 answered with Question No. 872.