Gay Mitchell
Question:9 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to have members of the Garda Síochána assigned to the European Liaison Bureau at Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - European Liaison Union.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans at present to assign any member of the Garda Síochána to the European Liaison Bureau.
The Minister has assured the House she is concerned about the problems resulting from the availability of drugs. Is she aware that Interpol has set up a European Liaison Bureau, one of the objectives of which is to coordinate the operations of Interpol in so far as they concern the distribution of illegal drugs throughout Europe? Given the evidence which suggests drugs coming into this country are warehoused through member states of the European Community, would she agree the presence of a liaison officer from our Garda force in Europe, near the centre of distribution, would greatly benefit the Garda and customs officials in tackling the importation of drugs?
This matter involves two issues. On the one hand we are dealing with Interpol where there is no requirement to assign a liaison officer and on the other with the Europol Drugs Unit, recently set up in The Hague, to which a liaison officer has already been appointed. That officer, who holds the rank of sergeant, is based in the Dublin headquarters and operates in the Europol Drugs Unit. It has been suggested the position should be at inspector level. A circular was issued to all inspectors asking them to apply for the position if they were interested. Application have been received and a recommendation will be passed to the Commissioner and an inspector appointed. I have considered a possibility which might be in our best interests despite the assigning of a liaison officer to the Europol Drugs Unit. Legislative change would be necessary. I have asked my officials to consider that matter so that it may be included in the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to be introduced in the autumn.
Is the Minister aware that the Interpol Liaison Bureau is located in Lyon in France?
Yes.
Would she agree that, rather than waiting for any requirement to assign an officer there, some initiative should be taken by the Government to prevent the drugs trafficking gaining momentum, and to tackle the problem in parts of the inner city where drugs are being sold openly? Yesterday I met tenants from an inner city flats complex who are concerned about the sale of drugs on the street. Would the Minister agree that the presence of a Garda liaison officer in Lyon would help root out the source of those drugs and that action should be taken at that level before they are imported?
That might be helpful, but priority must be given to the Europol Drugs Unit. That is why I attached importance to the immediate appointment of a liaison officer when the setting up of a Europol Drugs Unit was agreed by the Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs. Interpol is a worldwide police organisation. Our biggest problems concern the European Union. I considered it a priority to ensure that whatever needs to be done within the European Union and by my ministerial colleagues in the Council of Europe, should be done and the emphasis should be at that level. I am prepared to be innovative, as I have proven in the past, in relation to initiatives on the international front.