Vol. 492 No. 1
110 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the measures, if any, in place to foster co-operation between his Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding efforts to eliminate the trade in illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13679/98]
There is close co-operation between all Government agencies in the battle against drug smuggling. On 12 January 1996, a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, was signed between the Garda Síochána and the Customs and Excise Service of the Revenue Commissioners. The MOU is a formal police-customs agreement setting out the respective roles and responsibilities of both services. It provides a framework to facilitate and foster the development of greater police-customs co-operation in the fight against drugs and introduces clear and agreed lines of demarcation between the two agencies.
The necessary operational and liaison structures, which are subject to review, have been put in place. These include a joint task force comprising the Customs, Garda and Naval Services, if required for maritime operations. There is nationwide liaison at local level between nominated Customs and Garda officers in addition to the exchange of personnel between the Customs National Drugs Team and the Garda National Drugs Unit, at head office level. This nationwide liaison was formally put in place in February 1997.
The Government programme relating to drugs law enforcement is overseen by an ad hoc group comprising a deputy commissioner of the Garda Síochána, an assistant secretary, Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the flag officer, Naval Service. All these arrangements are working well.
A major contribution towards effective co-operation has been the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau in 1996. The bureau operates through its "bureau officers" who have been drawn from the Garda Síochána, officers of the Revenue Commissioners (Customs and Excise and Taxes), and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Close and ongoing liaison is maintained between the bureau officers and the fraud and drugs-intelligence services in these agencies and this has contributed in a significant degree to the success of the CAB in combating drug trafficking, including the seizure of assets. Additionally, the Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and Other Purposes Act, 1996, provides the statutory basis on which Revenue can provide information to enhance the workings of the CAB. Revenue has as a consequence been able to provide valuable information and support on a timely basis to the CAB in its work in depriving criminals of their assets.
Under the European Council Action Plan to Combat Organised Crime, adopted by the Council on 28 April 1997, a multidisciplinary group on organised crime was established at national level in 1997. It comprises representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners (Customs and Excise). As a result further steps were taken to develop and facilitate a co-ordinated approach against organised crime, including drug trafficking. This group reports to the European Council Multidisciplinary Working Party which facilitates a co-ordinated approach in the fight against organised crime at European level.
