Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
96. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of the Revenue Commissioners participation in the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), including staffing, operational and technology resources. [38347/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of Revenue Commissioners' staff assigned full-time equivalent to Joint Agency Task Force JATF-related work; and whether there are plans to increase these resources. [38348/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether consideration has been given to establishing a dedicated budget or permanent staffing complement for the Joint Agency Task Force JATF. [38349/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of joint cross-border operations conducted under the Joint Agency Task Force JATF in each of the past five years; and the quantity and value of seizures arising directly from those operations. [38350/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the performance metrics or benchmarks used to assess the effectiveness of the Joint Agency Task Force JATF. [38352/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 to 100, inclusive, together.
The cross border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) which was established under the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement promotes real-time collaboration between An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Revenue and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in their efforts to disrupt the activities of organised crime groups.
Based on an agreed strategic assessment and prioritising against threat, harm and risk, it was agreed to adopt six priority areas for the JATF. The following six priority areas were formally ratified by the Strategic Oversight Group and are subject of review. 1. Rural Crime 2. Drugs 3. Financial Crime 4. Trafficking in Human Beings Including Children 5. Excise Fraud 6. Organised Immigration Crime.
The objective of the JATF is to build on existing frameworks and to increase the collective effectiveness within existing operational and financial constraints.
In relation to excise fraud, HMRC and Revenue use a combination of risk analysis, profiling, intelligence, and targeted investigations and operations to actively respond to this threat and to assist with the seizure of illicit products, the prosecution of individuals involved in the smuggling/supplying of these products and the recovery of assets affiliated with the proceeds of crime, where possible. HMRC and Revenue also conduct investigations into various types of tax fraud including Value Added Tax (VAT) fraud. Multi-agency co-operation is crucial to the process of gathering evidence to support investigations, prosecutions, and other interventions in crimes of this nature. The JATF priorities and activities are kept under continuous review to ensure resources available are utilised to best effect in combatting the threat that excise fraud and tax related crime poses to legitimate business, consumers, and the Irish and UK Exchequers.
As a multi-agency coordination structure, the JATF is a collaboration between all agencies involved as opposed to a separate entity and does not have a separate staffing complement or budget. Staff from An Garda Síochána, the PSNI, Revenue and HMRC are deployed, as required, in JATF actions and investigations.
Following the UK’s exit from the EU on the 31st of December 2020, cross border Law Enforcement Agencies continue to collaborate in the investigation and prevention of cross jurisdictional organised crime. The potential for Organised Criminal Gangs (OCGs) to exploit the border area to increase their income from illegal means remains, and their activities will continue to be the focus of cross border Law Enforcement Agencies.
Revenue’s customs and excise officers at the ports, airports and the inland enforcement teams are the frontline of Revenue’s response to smuggling of illicit products.
Revenue enforcement teams work closely with HMRC under the JATF framework in tackling cross-border movement of illicit trade.
The successful outcomes of this collaboration demonstrate the significant value of strong co-operation and joint operational activity between all cross-border law enforcement agencies and its correlating impact on tackling cross jurisdictional organised crime to enhance the safety of all communities on the island of Ireland.
All actions taken under the aegis of the JATF are reviewed in a bi-annual report by the Task Force’s Strategic Oversight Group, which is co-chaired at senior management level by An Garda Síochána and the PSNI. In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, this report details the work of the task force and is presented to the meeting of Justice Ministers under the framework of the Intergovernmental Agreement on co-operation on criminal justice matters.
The JATF don’t make public the details of this report, due to the sensitivities surrounding active and ongoing investigations but the following table contains the number of joint operations conducted under the aegis of the Task Force in which Revenue was involved, from 2022 to 2026*.
|
Year |
No. of operations |
|
2022 |
8 |
|
2023 |
13 |
|
2024 |
11 |
|
2025 |
10 |
|
2026* |
1 |
*end of April 2026
This Government has been consistent in its strong support for the work carried out by the JATF and I commend Revenue and all the relevant State agencies for their work in this important area of collaboration to tackle and disrupt criminal activity in both jurisdictions. I remain open to considering any proposals from Revenue for additional resources that will support their role in the JATF.
