Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Seizures.

Peter Barry

Question:

54 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice the amount and street value of drugs and other banned substances confiscated by custom officers, gardaí and others, in the State in 1992; if she has satisfied herself with the system for prevention now in operation in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The information which is available in relation to drug seizures by gardaí and customs officers is contained in the Garda Commissioner's Annual Report on Crime, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The 1992 report is not yet available.

I would like to assure the House that the Garda authorities are treating the problem of drug offending with the highest priority and I fully support their efforts in this respect. The Garda authorities continually monitor the drug situation in this country and they constantly review and adapt their strategies as appropriate to deal with it.

In particular they co-operate very closely with the customs authorities to curb the supply of drugs to this country. Such co-operation is all the more important in relation to the open border situation which now exists following completion of the Internal Market and in this respect measures have been taken to ensure that the agencies involved can operate the most effective and co-ordinated programme of enforcement to meet the demands of the new situation.

Intelligence-based strategies are central in combating the importation of drugs and the closest international co-operation is an essential prerequisite if such strategies are to prove effective. There are a number of important fora for such co-operation. Of most significance is the decision by the European Council that a Europol Drugs Unit should be established as soon as possible to act as a centralised exchange and co-ordination unit for, in particular, drug-related information between member states. This unit will be of great practical benefit in combating the international trafficking of drugs and I look forward to the establishment of the Unit at an early date.

The Garda authorities treat drug law enforcement as a priority. All members of the Garda Síochána deal with law enforcement aspects of drug misuse within their operational area and there are now gardaí specially trained in this area in every Garda Division. In addition, specific Garda drug squads operate in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and, at present small specialist units are in operation in Dublin's north inner city, Ballymun, Ballyfermot and Tallaght. Similar specialist units are set up on a temporary basis in other areas as required. The services of the drug squad are also made available to all areas as required.

A National Drug Unit, which was set up in 1990 and which is based in Garda Headquarters co-ordinates the Garda anti-drug efforts in this country and also acts as a liaison body with international drug enforcement agencies. In addition, the Revenue Commissioners have recently established a national drugs team with over seventy staff consisting of intelligence units, maritime units and sniffer dog units, which will be strategically based at locations throughout the country.

Initiatives have also been taken in the legislative area. One of the most effective measures which can be taken against drug traffickers is to deprive them of the profits gained from their illegal activity and work on a Bill dealing with this matter is proceeding as a matter of priority in my Department. I expect to be able to introduce this Bill at an early date.

While every effort is made to deal with drug abuse through law enforcement, this alone cannot solve the problem. Every member of society has a role to play and this role can be as important as the Garda response. The Government is aware that there is a need to tackle the drug problem on every front through a National Drug Strategy. As part of this work the Minister for Health in 1991 launched the Government strategy to prevent drug misuse, which sets realistic and achievable objectives for the reduction both in the supply of and demand for drugs.

I would like to assure the Deputy and the House that the drug problem has and will continue to be the subject of ongoing attention by the relevant authorities.