Like many countries,some issues can not be controlled by the government but do affect the nations economy. Ireland is no different in this case with issues of their own with an Irish black market. Ireland from the outsiders point of view can easily give the ignorant statement that alcohol counterfeiting and smuggling would be the biggest issue, but actually illegal prostitution is taking its toll on the country. Recorded last year, "According to the United Ireland Party, over 1,000 men in Ireland pay for sex in the country every day" (Gae, RTE news). This has affected many of the cities like Dublin and with such dealings come other issues like drugs. The drug market is actually the most profitable illegal trade in the country, Based on the following estimates, the illegal drugs market in Ireland is worth 628 Million Euros ($927 Million)" (Burke, Sunday Post). This includes such drugs as Heroin, Marijuana, Cocaine, and Ecstasy.
Though these to major issues do come hand and hand with each other; the largest issue in Ireland isn't an illegal product, but the smuggling of it. Cigarette counterfeiting and smuggling have seized the legal market profitability in Ireland, detouring a government tax that would help fuel the economy. Sharing this issue with there neighboring country, "Custom Officials in the United Kingdom and Ireland state that one in three cigarettes smoked in each country was smuggled into the country (Ass. Press)." Ireland's law enforcement have actually have dedicated more time to stop this illegal trade more than anything else, which has actually stalled enforcement on the other issues like drugs and Prostitution. Every country has its own problem and Ireland proves no different to this with there own black market.
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this is great to know. I did not know that Ireland had such a big black market in prostitution. Over a 1,000 men a day that's a lot of men a day. Counterfeit cigarettes, i didn't even know that was possible. Great post, good job.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting post. I never knew that Ireland had such a large illegal market for drugs and prostitution. I’m sure the United States and other countries also have to deal with these kinds of issues within their economies too. I didn’t expect Ireland to have 927 million dollars worth in their illegal prostitution market, weird. Good post though very informative and unexpected material.
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