Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Paramilitary Policing.

Mr. G. Mitchell

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. It has come to my attention that a group describing themselves as "The Dublin Cumann of the IRSP" recently issued a threatening notice to residents of an inner city flats complex. The notice threatened that those involved in "drug dealing and abuse" will be referred to "the local committee and could face notice to leave the main flats complex as a result". This follows a similar notice issued by a group with a different so-called republican connection in another part of the same constituency.

There can be no republics within this Republic and those who appoint themselves judge, jury and executioner are seeking to provide a cure which is worse than the disease. The Government should do two things to address this matter, it should bring to account those who seek to put themselves in the place of the law and the democratic institutions of the State and, equally important, it should provide the Garda and Dublin Corporation with the necessary estate management resources to ensure that any drug dealing or anti-social behaviour is effectively counteracted.

I welcome the significant achievements of Dublin Corporation in the estate management area. It is making real efforts and it is to be supported and congratulated on that. The Government should support Dublin Corporation by making whatever resources are necessary to maintain the momentum. I salute those in Dublin Corporation's housing department who are bringing this about.

In the flats complex to which this notice refers, a community relations garda already co-operates closely with residents and I welcome that development. This garda was viciously attacked in the same flats complex some time ago, but he heroically continues to do his work there. He is much admired by the local people and has the support of the community. It is time he and other gardaí like him were given the necessary support and the resources to do their difficult jobs.

All democrats must abhor attempts by those who have no mandate to muscle in on the administration of justice. As part of the reconciliation process on this island, it would be a good idea to run democracy training programmes for these people. I do not make that suggestion lightly. Whoever sent out this notice, the people who put on balaclavas and call people before committees and the inner city person who put the gun in the mouth of a nine year old – the wrong nine year old as it happened – probably think they are doing a good deed and serving some cause. Those people need training in democracy. They should be told they are entering a democratic way of life and they can no longer behave in that way. If there is a problem with the institutions of this State it is the job of this House and the Government, not that of someone whose cure is far worse than the disease.

I make it clear that the State has failed people living in these flats complexes. We have allowed what one journalist accurately described as open supermarkets of drugs to operate in these areas. It is not happening to that extent now. Thankfully, we have reached a stage where we are on top of the problem to some extent. However, the State must not fail those people. I include judges in that. I hope some judges will walk around the inner city, bump into people and wonder how they get by in these flat complexes, so that when they come to administer the law in those areas they will understand the conditions in which these people live and how one thug in one flat complex can make life hell for everybody. Some of those flats complexes are as big as a large village or small town.

I ask the Government to take every possible step to deal with this issue and put the State behind the communities in those areas so no one else has any reason to stand in and fill a vacuum. This is wholly unacceptable and if it gains currency, it will be very difficult to deal with. People will not have an appeals procedure as we understand it in common law if this type of occurrence takes root.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am glad to be given this opportunity to address the aspect of the drugs problem in the Dublin area raised by Deputy Mitchell. The Government's policy response to the drug problem which, sadly, afflicts our communities, is to tackle it on two fronts, namely supply and demand. On the supply side, as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have taken a zero tolerance stand on this issue. The only answer to dealing with the supply of drugs is strong legislation backed by tough law enforcement measures.

In this context, I am satisfied the legislative response is appropriate and I assure the Deputy that when the need arises the necessary responses will be made. Accordingly, the Criminal Justice Bill, 1997, has been enacted and proposes a minimum mandatory ten year prison sentence for persons convicted of dealing in drugs with a value of £10,000 or more. This Act also introduces a range of new measures to prevent the intimidation of witnesses, jurors and their families and provides for a maximum ten year sentence for people convicted of such intimidation.

In addition, legislation which I introduced in opposition, the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, continues to be a vital tool in the armoury of the criminal assets bureau in their sustained quest to deprive known criminals, and others, of the assets acquired from the proceeds of their illegal activities. As the Deputy is aware my recruitment campaign for the Garda is proceeding and the additional manpower resources which will be made available forms a vital element of my strategy to deal with the drugs problem in the Dublin area.

In terms of enforcement the Garda Síochána is doing an outstanding job in dealing with the drugs problem both nationally and locally and, in co-operation with the Customs authorities, seized drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £90 million last year. In addition, operations such as Dóchas, Mainstreet and Cleanstreet targeted the very problem at the core of the issue raised by the Deputy, namely street dealing in the Dublin area. The success of these operations was such that more than £5.6 million worth of illegal drugs were seized and more than10,000 persons were arrested for drug related offences. This is the proof that the Garda Síochána is dealing effectively with this problem and will continue to do so.

However, enforcement measures alone will not ultimately succeed in dealing with the scourge of the drugs problem. The Government's policy of a multi-agency response which brings the communities and the voluntary sector together with the statutory agencies is one which is working well and has given local communities an effective and vital role in dealing with the drugs problem in their own communities. A major element of this multi-agency approach is the co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the local communities both in relation to the National Drugs Strategy via the local drugs task forces and the integrated services project which aims to develop a more focused and co-ordinated response by the statutory agencies to the needs of the communities.

There are certain elements who see themselves as self-styled protectors of the community. These people have a well established agenda of trying to discredit the lawfully established public agencies and because of their perception of what they are doing, feel that they are immune to the law when they go about their activities. I assure the Deputy that neither I as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or the Garda Síochána are prepared to allow these people to be above the law. There is little doubt that these elements can influence people in these communities and sometimes people can be swept along on a tide of anti-authority sentiment. However, it is my view and the view of the Garda that despite attempts to manipulate them, the vast majority of people in these areas appreciate the work done by the Garda and the other statutory agencies in dealing with the drugs problem and would disassociate themselves from the actions and comments of these people who choose to manipulate the situation for their own sinister reasons.

The Garda will continue to work in tandem with the local communities and in this context it is proposed to set up a community policing forum in the area to enable an ongoing planned and shared operation involving gardaí, community representatives, interested bodies and political representatives. The forum will facilitate mediation and the provision of information and feedback in a structured way on issues of mistrust and suspicion. This involves a continued proactive and sustained Garda presence. Research will be carried out to determine a suitable model of community policing which will be followed by the development of detailed structures.

On the notice mentioned by Deputy Gay Mitchell, Fatima Mansions is the most intensively policed complex in the Kevin Street district and local resident groups acknowledge a vast improvement in the drug problem of the area. I assure the Deputy that I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they will keep a close watch on the situation to ensure that these elements will not be allowed to cut across the normal process of the law. As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have full confidence in the ability of the Garda Síochána to deal with this particular issue.