Allegations that cross border crime is being ignored do not give credit to north/south relations – Coghlan

“Allegations that authorities on both sides of the border are turning a blind eye to fuel laundering and cigarette smuggling are simply untrue and do not give credit to the excellent relationship between police forces on both sides of the border”, says Paul Coghlan, Government Chief Whip in the Seanad.

“Following publication of and debate on a report by a committee of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, Mícheál Martin, has stated in Dáil Éireann that the authorities are turning a blind eye to fuel laundering and cigarette smuggling.

“This claim, he admitted, was based on anecdotal evidence and certainly, while we did encounter this anecdotal view before compiling the study, we found that truth to be that co-operation between the police forces, North and South, is excellent.

“In the Dundalk region there are 34 border crossing points and it is difficult for the Gardaí to police it all. Our Gardaí in that area have received threats from some of these people in the past. Some of these people have obstructed and driven through road blocks.

“North of the border, in south Armagh, policing is even more difficult. There is a personnel shortage. One will not find any policemen on the beat or near on the beat. They have armoured vehicles for when they leave their barracks.

“It is not tolerable that 17 years after the first peace agreement, we have certain crime overlords and drug smugglers openly flouting the law.

“I know, following discussion with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Charlie Flanagan and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald that the Government is pursuing these matters with our counterparts in the North and in London.

“Ongoing discussion at the level of the British-Irish Ministerial Council will continue and there is no doubt that we do need to see progress in this area without delay.”