Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2004
158 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of criminal gangs operating in the greater Dublin area; the number so involved a year ago; the action taken in the interim to combat the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12905/04]
View answer169 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which he has taken action to bring justice persons or groups involved in racketeering, money laundering or other forms of organised crime, having particular regard to information he has himself put in the public arena; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12920/04]
View answer170 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he proposes to take to bring to an end the growth in organised crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12922/04]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 158, 169 and 170 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the majority of groups of the kind referred to by the Deputy in Dublin tend to be made up of criminals who are not affiliated to a particular gang but operate on an ad hoc basis committing criminal offences, with others who may be associated with one or more groupings, as the opportunity of acquiring cash-property arises. Given the fluidity of this situation there are inherent difficulties in providing statistical information of the kind sought.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that a dedicated operation, Operation Lance, has been established under the direction of a detective superintendent to deal with serious crime in the Dublin metropolitan region. Since the establishment of this operation 27 persons have been arrested in relation to serious criminal activity and €6 million worth of stolen property has been recovered.
The establishment of specialist Garda units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Garda National Drug Unit, operating under an assistant commissioner in charge of national support services, has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime involving drugs, fraud, money laundering, racketeering and firearms in a structured and co-ordinated fashion.
While I am currently undertaking a review of the adequacy of legislative provisions, our legislative package for tackling organised crime is one of the toughest in Europe. The Garda Síochána has available to it a broad range of legislation, including proceeds of crime legislation, to enable serious or organised crime to be tackled and the Garda continue to follow a proactive and integrated approach to the investigation of organised crime.
