Total sales in the EU for 1996 were £4.6 billion (#5.8 billion).

Total sales in the Republic were #165 million.

Intra-EU sales represent 70-80 per cent of sales.

The EU is the largest market for duty-free sales worldwide, representing 53 per cent of the total.

Duty-free spending in the EU breaks down as: ferries (51 per cent), airports (39 per cent) and planes (10 per cent).

Duty-free spending in the Republic breaks down as: airports (73 per cent), ferries (18 per cent) and planes (9 per cent).

Wines and spirits make up 27 per cent of sales, cosmetics and perfumes 22 per cent, tobacco 22 per cent.

Estimate for lost revenue to EU states: More than £800 million (#1.02 billion) a year.

Likely gain to Irish Exchequer from abolition: £35£40 million (#44-#51 million).

Jobs "at risk" from abolition: 56,000 in EU as a whole; 1,166 in Republic.

The Irish invented the duty-free shop in 1947, in Shannon; it sold Irish linen, French perfumes and German porcelain to travellers to North America.

Aer Rianta now runs duty-free shops in Moscow, Bahrain, Karachi, Beijing, the Channel Tunnel and elsewhere.

Drink and cigarette companies offer substantial discounts to duty-free operators, making them more profitable.

Only 1 per cent of cigarette sales are through duty-free.

20 per cent of Irish Distillers' whiskey sales are made through duty-free shops.

Irish duty-free sales, on a per capita basis, are the fourth highest in the EU.