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.

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.