Revenue x-ray scanner

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD, last month officially launched Revenue's new Customs x-ray container scanner in Dublin Port. It is suitable for scanning containers, trailers, and vehicles including cars, vans and coaches. It will be deployed at all of Ireland's car ferry and container ports including Dún Laoghaire.

The system is highly mobile and can be set up to operate in less than 30 minutes.

Built by Nuctech Co. Ltd in China, the new x-ray scanner, the most powerful mobile container scanner currently available on the market, will enable Customs to inspect increasing numbers of commercial vehicles and containers. The scanner is capable of detecting drugs; contraband such as cigarettes and alcohol; explosives and firearms; and clandestines (stowaways). The scanner uses a high-energy linear accelerator to generate the x-rays. The system produces high quality x-ray images, which when subjected to the sophisticated software systems, can be interpreted to detect concealments in cargoes.

Speaking at the ceremony An Taoiseach said: "This scanner will no doubt help level the playing field for Customs in tackling the containerised smuggling of drugs and contraband tobacco. The United Nations Office on Drugs estimated the global illicit drug market to be valued at over $429 billion in 2003. And with the increasing sophistication of smugglers worldwide, detection is becoming more and more difficult. That is why it is essential that those who have to fight the smugglers be provided with the tools necessary to do so."

Ostend café comes to Dún Laoghaire!

The old entrance to the Carlisle Pier was transformed in January for the filming of a feature fim called Dragnet which will star Robert Carlyle (Angela's Ashes, The Full Monty, Trainspotting) and Gary Lydon (Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York).

The story follows down on their luck fishermen who are forced to smuggle illegal Chinese immigrants from Ostend, Belgium, to Scotland on their trawler. During their journey friendships are made, allegiances tested, and tragedy inevitable follows. A small sequence takes place in a cafe as the fishermen stop in before going out to sea and the Carlisle Pier entrance was temporarily modified for the task.

Dublin Bay's future

A conference to discuss the future of Dublin Bay will be held on Saturday 8th April in the Kingston Hotel, Dún Laoghaire from 10am to 4pm. The conference is being organised by the Dún Laoghaire Green Party and representatives of various parties and organisations will discuss transport, environmental and planning issues around the Bay. All are invited to participate and further details are available from ROI 01 2846060 or visit www.DublinBayFutures.org.