asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that a special Garda drug unit which operated most effectively in the north inner city of Dublin over the past two years was recently disbanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Drug Unit.
10.
(Limerick East): The allocation of members of the Garda Síochána to particular duties is a matter for the Garda authorities at the appropriate level having regard to local circumstances, available Garda resources and demands on Garda services.
The Garda inform me that in October 1983 a special unit from Store Street Garda District was set up to investigate drug abuse and drug trafficking in the district. It was envisaged from the outset that this particular assignment would be of limited duration and it was terminated in August 1984. A further special drug unit has been operating in the area in question on a temporary basis since January of this year and the situation is being kept under review by the Garda authorities.
May I first take this opportunity of congratulating the Garda Drug Squad on their recent major heroin seizures in Dublin. Does the Minister now accept that this special drug unit has been reformed and is operating effectively within the north inner city area of Dublin? Does he now accept that it was a serious error of judgement at the time to disband this unit, which led to the regrouping of heroin suppliers in that area of Dublin and to the establishment of a heroin supply operation in O'Connell Street itself? Would he accept that it was this serious situation only that led to the reforming of the special unit? Will the Minister ensure that this special unit remains in existence as long as there is a serious heroin problem in the centre of Dublin?
(Limerick East): I have no information at all to suggest that what the Deputy says is so. The facts, as presented to me, are that a special unit set up in October 1983 operated and was terminated in August 1984, and that a new unit was organised in January of this year. I have no information to suggest that there was any big change in the situation in the Dublin inner city area between the termination of one group and the formation of another. The Deputy should bear in mind that there is a drug squad in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. But, apart from that, up to 2,000 gardaí have been given specific training in the drug area. It would be wrong to put the emphasis totally on the drug squad. This has been the experience in other countries. It has been the experience, in, for example, London, Amsterdam—our drugs squad is probably about the same size as the drug squad in Amsterdam although the problem is far greater in Amsterdam. Internationally the concentration now is on having an expert group but then the training of as many policemen as possible, so that they are all aware of the dangers of drugs and have expertise in the area. The statistics of arrests and drug finds bear this out because the force at large have had something like 85 per cent of the finds over the last year.
Does the evidence available to the Minister suggest that the heroin trade is increasing here? What does the evidence available to the Minister suggest at present? It is increasing or are we getting it under control?
(Limerick East): I am always careful not to be too dogmatic about things like this. Drugs are like forest fires, they flare up when one thinks one has them under control. But certainly it seems to have plateau'd somewhat and the information emanating from the Garda, the hospitals and medical practitioners is that they are not seeing new addicts. But that does not mean that there is not a problem. Obviously there is a problem of addition. It is probably also true to say that there will be more deaths of people related to drug addiction in the future, not necessarily because of an increase in use but because there is a time lag between addiction and mortality, and that we will be seeing deaths from the difficulties of the years 1981, 1982 and 1983. The big fear internationally at present is that in regard to cocaine — which is so prevalent in the United States — its exporters, the people who organise it, will be looking for new markets and they will look particularly in areas where there is disposable income. Western Europe probably is the next best market after North America. We should be very vigilant about it because, even though the thing seems to have plateaud out now, there are huge amounts of money involved in the international drug business and there are people who are prepared to develop new markets because they run it as a business.
Again, might I ask——
We cannot move into a general discussion on drugs. The question is regarding the disbandment of a drug squad. I do not think that gives rise to a whole discussion on the drugs problem. I think that is a reasonable attitude to take.