Vol. 515 No. 6
259 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of indictable crimes committed in each Garda division in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7035/00]
I can inform the Deputy that indictable crime statistics can be found in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent annual report details the crime statistics for 1998. The annual reports of the Garda Síochána detail crimes reported on a national, regional and divisional basis.
260 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of unlawful killings in each of the years 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7036/00]
I can inform the Deputy that indictable crime statistics can be found in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent annual report details the crime statistics for 1998. While Garda crime statistics for 1999 have not yet been formally published, I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 1998, 38 murders were recorded. I am further informed that provisional figures for 1999 also indicate that 38 murders were recorded, 31 of which were detected. The number of murders recorded over the past two years is in fact lower than the number which were recorded in 1996 and 1995, which was 43 and 42, respectively.
In 1999, nine cases of manslaughter were recorded, compared with 13 cases of manslaughter in 1998. These figures compare to a total of 16 which were recorded in 1997. Again, I should stress that the statistics for 1999 are provisional and are subject to change.
I am satisfied that the current arrangements for the investigation of murder and manslaughter cases is satisfactory and I am informed by the Garda authorities that all such crimes are investigated to a conclusion. While it is of no consolation to the families of those who have died in violent circumstances, the House will be interested to know that the murder rate is among the lowest in Europe.
261 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on recent increases in alleged organised crime, particularly violent crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/00]
The statistics compiled for the annual reports of An Garda Síochána do not give a breakdown of offences committed by what are regarded as organised criminal groups. However, I do not accept that there has been an increase in organised crime in recent times. For example, in relation to one area sometimes associated with organised criminals, the number of armed robberies decreased by more than 20% between 1995 and 1999.
In fact, the last few years has seen a major crackdown on organised crime. Legislation specifically designed to target organised crime has been introduced: the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, which I introduced while in Opposition; the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996; the Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and other Purposes Act, 1996; and the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996; the Criminal Justice Act, 1999, which I introduced before the House.
Specialised Garda units such as the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda national drugs unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been established, again, to combat organised crime.
Since its statutory inception in October 1996 and up to 31 December 1999, the bureau has obtained section 2 interim orders on property to a total value of over £7.6 million and section 3 interlocutory orders on property to a total value of over £5.4 million, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996. During the same period the bureau demanded almost £33 million in the payment of tax and interest from persons suspected of involvement in criminal activity and social welfare determinations and savings amounted to over £1.5 million.
In 1998 and 1999 seizures of illicit drugs amounted to an estimated street value of over £120 million and the money laundering investigation unit of An Garda Síochána received over 2,500 suspicious transaction reports with a value of over £200 million.
These measures have been recognised as a major step forward in the fight against organised crime and have resulted in the dismantling of major organised crime gangs and a high percentage of persons being prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to prison.
With regard to violent crime in particular, the Deputy is well aware that the use of violence and intimidation by criminals is not a new phenomenon and in cases where the victims are also involved in crime there can be major difficulties involved in investigating the crime.
I have already mentioned the legislation introduced in recent years to combat organised crime and the establishment of specialised Garda units. In addition, I have introduced a witness security programme which has been used successfully to date.
