Vol. 478 No. 3
82 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice her understanding of protection rackets; whether such protection rackets have been brought to her attention by the Garda authorities; whether there are areas of Dublin where such rackets operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10955/97]
I understand that crimes associated with protection racketeering generally fall into the bracket of blackmail, demanding with menaces and extortion and are legislated for by section 17 of the Criminal Law (Public Order) Act, 1994.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is the policy of the Garda Síochána to investigate all crimes coming to notice and to institute proceedings where sufficient evidence is available.
At the present time, there is one case relating to an offence in the nature of extortion before the courts, and three persons have been charged with offences under Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Public Order) Act, 1994. These offences relate to incidents alleged to have occurred in 1995 when money was allegedly demanded from an individual for his protection.
