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A NEW SURVEY has found that two thirds of all cigarettes for sale illegally in Dublin are manufactured specifically for the black market.
In the test purchase exercise, carried out on behalf of tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris International, it was found that these brands, known as ‘illicit whites’, made up the bulk of black market trading.
The company carries outs research in the area of the consumption of black market cigarettes around the EU. Speaking in 2013, Artyom Chernis, a representative from the company said, “The black market for tobacco is bad for business and bad for communities across the EU.”
In the course of carrying out the test purchase, a number of brands that had not appeared on the market in the UK or Ireland before were found. These included:
The study was carried out by a number expert investigators, in a team headed by Detective Chief Superintendent, Kevin Donohoe, and former Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector, Will O’Reilly.
Speaking about the find, Donohoe said, “While this study provides just a snap shot of the illegal tobacco trade, our operatives purchased various products with relative ease throughout many parts of the city.
“The illegal trade is well organised, providing large profits for those involved, who are primarily highly organised criminal networks.”
In a statement sent out by the tobacco company it states that the illicit trade of tobacco undermines key public policy concerns in the area and undermines “the core purposes of the regulatory initiatives to reduce tobacco usage.”
In the coming months a more comprehensive test-purchase study will be carried out across Ireland.
Recently, a Eurobarometer survey found that around 21% of people smoke in Ireland, compared to a European average of 26%.
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Agree. Believe it or not, it’s not always about money. The working conditions for non consultant hospital doctors (NCHD) in this country can be extremely stressful, the work-life balance is very poor, there is a huge degree of uncertainty over your future career prospects and there is very little trust between the HSE and doctors overshadowing all negotiations. In my opinion it would be preferable if they didn’t change current nchd wages but instead made real efforts to improve these working conditions, career pathways, and work-life balance.
Agreed
Typical, you quote the very top end of the pay scale in your article at €125,000 and €175,000.
The vast majority of doctors earn no where near this. Starting pay for a Doctor, first year out of college is €32,000 (€15/hr) plus terrible work conditions and long hours (they have to fight for overtime paid with HR), 2nd year they jump to SHO at a massive €38,000 (over time only paid at time and a quarter!). After being in the system for 8 years they are on €54,000 and they still have to work inside the non-functional HSE system. Just to compare a primary school teacher with an honors degree is on more money at that point in their career (9:00-3:00 & generous vacation time).
Before someone points out that doctors get a free education, no – not all of them. Hundreds every year go back to college at age 22+ and pay for a postgraduate medical degree over 4 years. Personal debt at the end of this is €100,000 as it is not free. There is no tax relief on this huge loan, it is paid after taxation at car loan interest rates.
So doctors should leave Ireland and get paid better in a different country, I know I would.
” Just to compare a primary school teacher with an honours degree is on more money at that point in their career” a teacher would actually be on 50104 – that’s less. Please check facts first. Why even bring teachers into it? https://www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/Salary/PayScales/
I wanted to use a comparison within the public sector with a high education level, to compare.
Considering that undergraduate teaching is a 4 year degree versus an undergraduate medical degree being 6 years, or a medical postcard degree (4 year hons undergrad + 4 year medical post grad = 8 years). Based on that you can compare a Primary School Hons Teacher with a Masters Degree (6 years) to bring the pay scale up to match, I could also add the allowances for teaching through Irish and on an island to surpass it.
Whatever about doctors the nurses do not get paid enough money for the jobs that they have to do.
What happens to the cost of living when the middle and high earners get tax breaks and pay rises and the low paid society is left on flexi work at 8.65 an hour?
We have introduced regressive charges while getting rid of progressive taxation.
Top 10% of ireland owns 50% of the wealth
A €60,000 salary will get you into the top 10%. It’s hardly billionaires owning half the country.
People can come up with all kinds of statistics , 31% of people know that
Doesn’t take away from the fact ireland is unequal and while we look for those well paid to be paid more the bottom of society is been left behind and ignored.
Kevin… sone people work harder and have better qualifications. Doctors and nurses are highly qualified and work incredibly hard. You can’t compare them to yourself
It’s fine the 26% of kids in poverty will be grand sorry for asking.
Kevin.. there’s unequal and there’s unequal, many on here get up off their ass and go out to work, pay tax and get few breaks while others sit at home doing nothing but holding out the hand for free this and free that, moaning about a €2.50 prescription charge while I fork €50 for the same med. . Yeah that’s unequal all right
What % of the country sits on their ass and does 0 work while wanting handouts for everything?
I work earning 8.65, some weeks I get 40 hours some weeks I get 6. I’ve been applying for apprenticeships for 8 months now in the meantime I got safe pass certs, manual handling and my drivers licence.
There’s about 3 apprentiships available nationwide a day due to no incentive for employers to take people on and the government have no regard for the construction sector.
It would be amazing if I could at least get garunteed hours to start saving a bit for maybe a 1 bedroom apartment in 10 years but my employer won’t budge.
100% of those on low pay are working and they deserve something back for been proportionally the hardest hit during austerity.
There’s a 100% chance I’m gonna be 69% drunk tonight!!!
Kevin, if you study you ass off and get a good leaving cert, work hard through six years of college and then work as a slave for 12 years, then you can have the same. Your comment is not relevant. It is stated the top 10% have 50% of the wealth. Wanna know something else? They also pay 50% of the tax, thus supplementing those low earners that you complain about.
Kevin, nothing stopping you from joining the doctors in the good life.
Just repeat the leaving, get 6 As, then a quick 6 years in university, followed by 1 year internship, another 9 years of speciality training, being shipped around the hospitals in ireland before going abroad to complete your training.
Sure in only 16-18 years (of 80+ hour weeks) you’ll be making the big bucks! Easy work too, not like you’d be making life and death decisions or anything. From what I hear it’s all golf, brandy and cigars.
Public servants out of touch with reality.
Bunkum. They never admit they’re in it for the money.
Nobody forced you to work in the private sector. You made your choice
Never heard of a recruitment embargo Kevin?
Private sector go swing!!! Ye get bonuses and pay hikes!!! I know private sector workers who never took a pay cut during the recession!! Next!!
Why do we even have a pubic sector pay deal. Correct me if I’m wrong but when these deals get done are we giving blanket pay rises for all?
Why is it not supply and demand. If doctors are difficult to come by pay them more. If theres plenty of nurses, teachers, admin staff or whatever and positions are easier to fill pay them less. Surely supply and demand should dictate pay scales. Kind of like the way it’s done in the private sector.
I know two young doctors under 27 who took their lives because of the conditions they are under working in Ireland….. Grisham Irish trained doctors leaving Ireland in droves.
have your say