Oireachtas committee sought action on cigarette smuggling in 2013

An Oireachtas dommittee wrote to the justice minister in March 2013 highlighting the need to tackle the huge increase in illegal cigarette smuggling.

Committee chairman, David Stanton TD, wrote to Alan Shatter outlining the committee’s concerns and representations they had had from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents on the issue. However, it appears nothing was done and Mr Stanton said his committee would be focusing on the subject again when it reconvenes next month.

He made his comments in the wake of an undercover investigation which shows the country is awash with illegal tobacco.