More than half of the cigarette packs examined in a new industry-commissioned survey did not carry evidence that Irish excise duty had been paid.
The 2026 Empty Pack Survey, conducted on behalf of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Ireland, examined 5,000 discarded cigarette packs collected from streets and public bins in 22 of Ireland’s largest towns and cities. The packs were gathered between February 16th and April 3rd last.
According to the then findings, 57% were classified as non-Irish duty paid, mNo Duty Paid on image suppliedeaning Irish taxes had not been paid on them. However, this category includes both illegal tobacco and cigarettes legally purchased abroad and subsequently brought into Ireland. Fourteen per cent of all packs examined were identified as counterfeit. Counterfeit cigarettes are manufactured without the brand owner’s permission and are generally produced to imitate legitimate products, deceive consumers and evade taxation.
Significant geographical differences were reported. Galway recorded the country’s highest proportion of non-Irish duty-paid packs, at 75%. Swords followed at 66%, according to the published results. Wexford had the highest reported counterfeit rate, with counterfeit products accounting for 25% of packs collected there. Ennis recorded a rate of 20%, followed by Waterford at 19%. The survey covered 22 towns and cities, but the accessible reports do not indicate that Clonmel, Nenagh, Thurles or another Tipperary location was included.
Researchers assessed the discarded packs to establish their likely origin, examine their tax markings and determine whether they were authentic. The findings should be interpreted with some caution. Because the research was commissioned by a tobacco company and relied on discarded packs, it does not necessarily represent the proportion of all cigarettes consumed or sold in Ireland. Empty-pack studies also cannot establish whether every non-Irish duty-paid pack entered the country illegally.
The latest official comparison currently available is Revenue and the HSE’s independently conducted 2024 survey of packs held by smokers. It classified 26% as illegal and another 11% as legal but non-Irish duty paid. Counterfeits represented less than 1% of the illegal packs in that study.
Pre-deceased by his wife Lita, parents Pat and Josephine; Mr Duggan, sadly, passed away suddenly, while in the care of staff at the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving daughters Laura and Katie, grandchildren, brothers Pat, Liam and Theo, sisters Anna (Harrington), Margaret (Quinlan) and Mary (Hackett), nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Duggan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Duggan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”
Geoffrey Chaucer 1385, in his epic poem Troilus and Criseyde (Book II) wrote: “Who that hath an hed of verre, Fro cast of stones war hym in the werre!”, (Translated: “He who has a head of glass should beware of hostile stones.”) The phrase warns against hypocrisy.
Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Mr Matt Carthy says violent offenders should “serve the custodial sentence that they were given.”
He raised questions after Ms Alison Chawke was released under supervision, after serving only four weeks of an effective 12-month sentence for a serious assault. Ms Chawke had received an effective 12-month custodial sentence. She had served approximately four weeks, before entering the Community Return Scheme. She remains strictly supervised by the Probation Service and must perform unpaid work; the scheme is formally restricted to prisoners assessed as posing no threat to the community.
But where was this absolute principle when Sinn Féin supported the accelerated release of republican prisoners under the Good Friday Agreement?
A total of 428 republican and Loyalist paramilitary prisoners received early release, including 143 serving life sentences. Among the first 248 released, official figures show that 78 had been convicted of murder. Sinn Féin strongly supported the Agreement and its prisoner-release provisions.
The Good Friday Agreement was an exceptional peace settlement, endorsed by voters, and its releases cannot simply be equated with an ordinary criminal-justice decision. Nevertheless, Mr Carthy cannot credibly declare that all violent offenders must serve their full custodial sentences without acknowledging the major exception his very own political party supported.
He is entitled to question Ms Chawke’s release, the risk assessment and the effect of prison overcrowding.
But consistency matters. If early release can be justified for people convicted of murder to advance peace, Sinn Féin should explain why supervised release can never be justified for rehabilitation or prison management today.
Otherwise, its position looks less like a consistent principle and more like political hypocrisy.
Pre-deceased by her parents Tom and Eileen and her brother Harry; Mrs Wolf passed away peacefully.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving daughters Siobhan and Kate (Wolf) and Marcia (Weldon), brothers John, Bill, Frank and Oliver, sisters-in-law, husband Lothar Wolf, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Rest In Peace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The remains of Mrs Wolf will repose at Aidan Walsh & Sons Funeral Home, Tallow, Co. Waterford, on Monday afternoon next, August 17th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening. Funeral service will take place at mid-day on Tuesday, August 18th, at 12:00 noon, in same Funeral Home, Tallow, followed later by a private Service of Cremation.
For those persons who would wish to attend Funeral Service for Mrs Wolf, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Wolf and Lupton families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Nenagh Gaol Has Not Been Closed to Visitors for 100 Years – New Project Concerns a Separate Cell Block
Nenagh Gaol, Co. Tipperary.
A recent press report [Irish Independent shown here] announcing a new exhibition at Nenagh Gaol could give readers the mistaken impression that the entire historic site has been closed to the public for more than a century. That is not the case.
Nenagh Heritage Centre, situated within the former gaol complex, has welcomed thousands of visitors since 1984. It occupies the former Governor’s House and Gatehouse, where visitors can already explore the site’s history and see the condemned cells associated with the 17 men executed there between 1842 and 1858.
The new proposed development relates specifically to a separate three-storey cell block that has not previously formed part of the public visitor experience. Tipperary County Council’s planning documents describe this building as a former cell block currently used as a council storage area. The project will conserve and adapt this previously inaccessible block, connect it with the existing Heritage Centre and introduce a new visitor exhibition, featuring interpretation and audio-visual displays.
Therefore, while it may be correct to say that this particular cell block is being opened to visitors for the first time in more than 100 years, it is inaccurate to suggest that Nenagh Gaol or its Heritage Centre has been closed throughout that period.
There is also a difference in the figures being reported. The official eTenders notice gives the estimated contract value as €110,000 excluding VAT, rather than just under €130,000.
Tourists in the area are encouraged to visit this historic venue, which historically housed those sentenced to death by public hanging. See link shown HERE
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments