Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Operations.

Tony Gregory

Question:

49 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions the gardaí have carried out operation clean streets; the number of arrests made in each case; the number of persons charged in each case; the number of convictions obtained in each case; and the penalties applied. [24026/99]

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

The Garda authorities have informed me that Operation Cleanstreet has been carried out on four occasions, details of which are set out in the following table:

Operation	Duration ofOperation	No. of persons charged under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977/84
Cleanstreet I	05/12/97 – 19/12/97	22
Cleanstreet II	14/04/98 – 11/06/98	74
Cleanstreet III	10/09/98 – 31/10/98	145
Cleanstreet IV	25/03/99 – 12/06/99	180

I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of convictions and the penalties imposed are not readily available at present as there are many prosecutions still pending before the courts and, as a result, the precise details, as requested by the Deputy, are not available.