Procurement of Revenue Customs Cutter

ongoing

Revenue has had a maritime patrol capability for the last thirty years, evolving from coastal RIB units to seagoing Revenue Customs Cutter’s (RCC). RCC Suirbhéir, was put into service in 2004 followed by a second Cutter (RCC Faire) in 2009. Revenue is faced with the full spectrum of non-compliance in the maritime domain including: the smuggling of prohibited and restricted items and excisable goods: non-compliance with the Customs Act 2015, with shadow economy activity; tax evasion and tax avoidance. Since 2004, Revenues Cutters contributed to the following seizures: 150 million cigarettes (€101m), 4,089kg of tobacco (€2.4m) and 4,050kg cocaine (€283m). The obligations on Revenue to protect the external frontier of the customs territory have increased significantly as a result of Brexit. As an EU Member State, we have an obligation to control our 3,173Km coastline and Revenue are obliged to demonstrate that we have an effective Customs control regime in place for vessels, goods, crews and passengers as regards customs declarations, import VAT and customs duty and the enforcement of excisable goods, prohibitions and restrictions. It is proposed to maintain Revenue’s maritime capability to detect prohibited goods and illicit excisable products in the maritime domain by the acquisition of a replacement Revenue Customs Cutter for our oldest vessel in service, RCC Suirbhéir. It is proposed to commence the procurement process for the replacement Cutter to be completed by April 2022. The procurement of a replacement Cutter would be publicised (with the appropriate recognition for any EU Anti-Fraud Programme funding provided) and it is expected that this would serve as a deterrent to smuggling and also a tangible demonstration of an effective Customs control regime in place for vessels, goods, crews and passengers in the maritime domain.