RETAILERS FIGHT AGAINST SMUGGLING
The ongoing battle against smuggling led by retailers saw a special forum held Leinster House last week, the Argus has learned.
The briefing was hosted by Louth TD Declan Breathnach to raise awareness of the growing concern surrounding smuggling in Ireland.
Deputy Breathnach had invited members of the lobby group Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) to outline how illicit trade is ‘negatively impacting on retailers and their local communities.’
Spokesman Benny Gilsenan explained: ‘RAS believe that until measures are taken to effectively tackle smuggling to protect small businesses, there should be no further increase in excise.
‘We have witnessed a growth in non-Irish duty paid which is a major concern to retailers, from 17% in 2013 to 20% in 2017 and due to the year-on-year increases in excise, this is likely to grow even further.’
He added: ‘Further hikes will lead to greater price differentials between legitimate, legal, duty-paid products and illicit, non-duty-paid products.’
‘ The RSA are calling for a moratorium on further excise increases until they can be proven not to lead to a surge in smuggling.’
‘We want to give a voice to the shopkeepers around the country that are having their business undermined by smuggled tobacco, alcohol and solid fuel. Retailers face an uncertain ‘future with Brexit looming, so the Government needs to totally reconsider its policy of year-on-year excise increases, which clearly helping fuel the illicit trade and to provide more resources to Revenue to stop the flow of illicit goods into Ireland and our local communities.’