Vol. 436 No. 6
2 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Defence the proposals, if any, he has to provide additional resources to the Naval Service to assist the Garda Síochána in dealing with the ongoing problem of vessels bringing large quantities of drugs into this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if, arising out of recent events along the south-east coast where large quantities of drugs have been discovered, he will increase surveillance both by the Air Corps and the Naval Service in that particular area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
Responsibility for prevention of the illegal importation of drugs rests primarily with the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda Síochána.
The Defence Forces respond to requests from the civil authorities for assistance, including assistance in combating the illegal importation of drugs, and they will continue to do so.
Regular liaison takes place between the Department of Defence, the Department of Justice and the Revenue Commissioners and work is in progress on proposals to co-ordinate and strengthen the co-operation between the various Government agencies involved in dealing with the problem of drug trafficking. The Department of Justice, as the agency with primary responsibility for law and order, is taking the initiative in this regard. The exercise will also address the level of resources required to tackle the problem, including the question of greater use of the Naval Service and Air Corps. The question of whether legislative changes are necessary will also be considered. My own opinion is that they are not necessary.
In the meantime I wish to emphasise that the present level of co-operation, which has resulted in major seizures of illegal drugs off the Irish coast in recent months, is very satisfactory. I would like to pay tribute to all the personnel involved in those operations including the ongoing operation which has resulted in the recovery of a substantial amount of cannabis resin from the seabed off Kinsale.
I join with the Minister in congratulating those involved in seizing the cannabis. Would the Minister agree that the Naval Service can only operate in aid of the civil power and that, therefore, there is a real weakness in the legislation? If the Naval Service suspects a particular vessel of being involved in trafficking drugs, arms or explosives, they can telephone the Department of Defence which, in turn, will contact the Garda Síochána and, if necessary, a member of the Garda Síochána will be transported to the Naval Service vessel. In the meantime the suspect vessel may disappear from the scene. Will the Minister, in conjunction with his colleague, the Minister for Justice, extend to the Naval Service in such cases the powers they now have to board fishing vessels which they suspect of being in breach of the law?
I take the Deputy's point, but having seen modern marine technology at first hand I think that any vessel trying to disappear from the scene of a crime might find it difficult to do so. Nowadays it is very easy to pinpoint such vessels. As to the need or otherwise for legislation, the main peace-time functions of the Naval Service includes fishery protection, sea search and rescue and aiding the civil power, which means assisting the Garda Síochána when requested. Proposals designed to secure the best arrangement for achieving a cohesive and co-ordinated response to drug trafficking by existing law enforcement agencies are being formulated. The Department of Justice, as the agency with primary responsibility for law and order, is taking the initiative in this regard.
Personnel of the Naval Service are empowered under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 to board, search and detain fishing vessels suspected of illegal fishing activity. The Naval Service also provides assistance on request to other Department and Government agencies. The Revenue Commissioners have power under customs and finance legislation to authorise members of the Defence Forces to act as officers of customs and excise. I am not aware that the existing legislation is in any way insufficient. My personal view, which I would not like the Attorney General or anybody else to be bound by, is that legislative changes are not necessary. However, that question is being addressed and any action required will be taken in the light of recent and anticipated events.
The Revenue Commissioners have made a submission to the Department of Finance for EU funding for maritime surveillance resources to combat the illegal importation of drugs. Should the application for funding be successful, it is likely that some of the funds will be allocated to provide additional resources for the Defence Forces and for the Naval Service.
Recently huge consignments of drugs were found off the coast. I do not know if the authorities were aware that those drugs were on the seabed or if they were discovered by accident. We had to find a boat from another country to help to recover them. It seems that our Naval Service is unable to deal adequately with the problem. That sea around our coast is now the centre of the drug business for the European market. More vigilance must be exercised and an assurance given that this will be combated at the highest level. I welcome what the Minister had to say in regard to funds for surveillance.
I can assure the Deputy that the matter is being dealt with at the highest level. It was an accident that the French trawler came upon the cannabis; it was a fishing vessel and had trawling facilities. The three Naval Service vessels, Deirdre, Aoife and Ciara have been at the scene of the drug discovery in succession since Wednesday, 24 November. The reason the French fishing vessel was used to recover the drugs from the seabed is that it was equipped to manage such work and had a trawling facility. Naval patrol vessels are designed for fishery protection duties and are not equipped for deep trawling work.
