Vol. 515 No. 6
263 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if air, land and sea surveillance is adequate to combat international drug smuggling in view of Ireland's strategic location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7040/00]
The Garda Síochána has pri mary responsibility for the apprehension and arrest of persons suspected of smuggling or the illegal importation of controlled drugs.
The Customs and Excise service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State by sea and air.
The Garda authorities have informed me that surveillance to combat international drug smuggling is carried out as follows: by air – the Garda air support unit supplemented by the Air Corps; by sea – the Naval Service is utilised for intercepting suspect vessels; by land – conducted by the Garda national surveillance unit which is recognised internationally as a highly professional operational unit.
In addition, the Revenue Commissioners have Customs and Excise officers strategically located at all major ports and airports and at various coastal locations. They also have five maritime units within the Customs national drugs team – CNDT – based in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Sligo. These officers attached to the maritime units are also engaged in servicing the Customs drug watch programme. This initiative which was launched in 1994 actively promotes the involvement of seafarers, aerodrome personnel and persons resident in coastal communities, in assisting the CNDT in identifying suspect craft which may be engaged in drug smuggling.
A coastal watch scheme is also in place along our coastline and involves: educating the public in relation to the possibility of drug traffickers importing drugs along the coastline, ensuring that information is recorded and channelled efficiently and ensuring that intelligence reports are utilised to the full.
To co-ordinate the management of this scheme a coastal watch co-ordinator has been appointed in the relevant areas. These co-ordinators are members of the Garda Síochána at the rank of inspector and are instrumental in cultivating contact with the following key members of the public: residents along the coast; farmers with land on the coast; island dwellers; local fishermen; members of local boat clubs; harbour masters; postmen; hotel, guest house, caravan and holiday home staff; lifeboat personnel, lifeguards, cliff/sea rescue personnel; beachcombers; rig workers; and wildlife rangers.
Given the length and nature of our coastline the difficulties involved in surveillance are obvious and it would be impossible to have blanket coverage.
Nevertheless, I am informed by the Garda authorities that due to the excellent working relationships which exist between the relevant agencies involved in air, sea and land surveillance, they are satisfied that the services currently in place are quite adequate to deal with this problem.
