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Shatter: Garda chief told me about WallaceEmbattled Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the Garda commissioner gave him details about TD Mick Wallace escaping penalty points and that he publicly revealed it to defend the integrity of the force.
Panicked last minutes aboard the Tit Bonhomme revealed at inquest Rarely has a voice ever carried so much panic.
- WORLD
Horror and heroism as tornado wreaks havocThe search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb raked by a massive tornado was almost complete last night.
Chile miner happy to be played by Banderas in filmAntonio Banderas will star in a movie as one of the 33 Chilean miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in 2010, and the charismatic survivor he's playing couldn't be happier.
- BUSINESS
Smooth exit from bailout forecastIreland is heading for a smooth exit from the bailout programme as GDP grows — delivering a huge political and reputational reward for the country, according to the latest Ernst & Young Economic Eye.
Glanbia’s Talbot first woman to take helm at a major Irish food companySiobhan Talbot is set to succeed John Moloney as group managing director of Glanbia, at the end of this year — becoming the first woman to head up a major Irish food company.
- SPORT
Deegan in dock over advantage ruleArmagh's Jamie Clarke has cleared Paul Grimley of all responsibility for Sunday's defeat by Cavan, but questioned referee Maurice Deegan's decision not to allow him advantage in scoring his second-half disallowed goal.
One more year and that’s it, insists O’DriscollBrian O'Driscoll has ruled out extending his career beyond next June.
- LIFESTYLE
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Opening a can of wormsThe UN thinks it's a good idea, but what do the Irish think of eating creepy crawlies, wonders Jonathan deBurca Butler.
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Ibec: Zero tolerance to black market
Ibec has called for a “zero-tolerance” approach from the gardaí and the courts when it comes to tackling black economy, which it claims is costing the exchequer more than €860m a year in lost revenue.
By Geoff Percival and Stephen Rogers
The black market and retail crime will cost the taxpayer €4.6bn over the next five years unless the Government tackles the problem, according to Ibec. The employers’ representative body made the call via Retail Ireland, its retail industry representative, which produced findings showing 12% of diesel sold in Ireland is illegal; 25% of cigarettes sold here are sourced from the black economy; and attempts to import counterfeit goods increased by a quarter during 2010, alone.
Within a sector that is already struggling, Retail Ireland said the increase in crime is also leading to thousands of job losses as employers cannot afford the lost revenue.
In a new report, Tackling the Black Market and Retail Crime, the organisation makes a number of key recommendations, including the reduction of current and future state payments, benefits and concessions for persons and businesses found guilty to the value of the loss to the exchequer of the goods smuggled, counterfeited or stolen. Custodial sentences should also be imposed for the most serious of offences, it said.
The report also calls for Garda resources to be redeployed into enforcement activities from other areas, such as routine road traffic policing. Rewards of up to €10,000 should be given to whistleblowers who report an illegal trade which results in a summary conviction. An awareness campaign should also be launched, alerting taxpayers about the additional burden they have to pay because of the criminal actions of a few.
According to Retail Ireland chairman Frank Gleeson, “the retail sector — already on its knees because of the collapse in consumer spending — is the worst affected by the sale of counterfeit and smuggled goods”.
“Retail sales have fallen by over 30% since the start of the recession and thousands of jobs have been lost. It is vital that the sector is not further squeezed by illegal criminal activity,” said Mr Gleeson.
“The scale of the lost revenue means it makes economic sense to invest more in tackling the problem. Additional Garda resources are required and much tougher sentences are needed as a deterrent.”
According to the report, the biggest drain on the State’s coffers is illegal tobacco which, it says, costs the taxpayer €526m. However, it admits that figure does not tally with one provided through a parliamentary question, which said the amount was €250m. However, it is clear that industry has lost out on €500m worth of sales and there have been 700 jobs lost as a result.
The next biggest loss to the exchequer is through fuel laundering — 52 filling stations have been shut by the Revenue Commissioners for not having a licence or being in breach of licensing conditions. Shoplifting and theft cost the State €110m, the report found. However, the total loss to the retailers themselves was €480m, up from €350m in 2005.