The Government campaign to "save" duty-free has all the signs of a fight undertaken more for the political kudos of being seen to do everything possible than for any hope of success. To overturn the 1991 decision to abolish duty-free next year, would require the unanimous approval of all the other EU member-states, which is simply not going to be forthcoming.

Minister Mary O'Rourke managed to persuade her transport minister colleagues to back the idea of undertaking a study to assess the likely impact of the measure. But the hard-nosed finance ministers were always going to be a nut which wouldn't be cracked. Mr McCreevy has said that it's not over until it's over and has vowed that the fight will go on. But in reality it's over and the cold hand of EU competition law is about to close around one of Ireland's most successful marketing inventions selling tax-free alcohol and cigarettes to travellers.