Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
117 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans and strategies to deal with the major drugs and gangland murders in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32610/04]
View answerA broad range of strong legislation is available to the Garda Síochána to confront serious and organised crime. Our criminal legislative framework reflects international developments to respond to the global growth of organised crime, including drug trafficking, as well as specific measures enacted to meet our own domestic situation. This framework is kept under continuous review.
The Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 have been successfully used to deprive those engaged in criminal activity of their assets. The powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau will be further bolstered with additional measures in the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2004, which is currently before the Seanad. This Bill will make certain technical amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 and will remove doubts about when a person may be said to be in possession or control of property for the purposes of that Act. Other relevant legislative initiatives are planned in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004. The first of these is provided for in Part 3 of the Bill. These provisions will allow the courts to admit, in certain specified circumstances, previous witness statements where a witness recants or refuses to testify at trial. Given that such refusal to co-operate may arise from intimidation, the provision is designed to ensure that witness statements might still be available to the courts even though the witness subsequently refuses to co-operate.
Other initiatives, which I will propose by way of amendments to the Bill, will make it an offence to participate in or contribute to the activities of a criminal organisation, strengthen existing provisions for minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking and create a new offence of supplying drugs to prisoners. Implementation of EU money laundering directives has severely limited the scope of criminal gangs to launder proceeds of crime and a third such directive is currently being negotiated. Following its agreement, my Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, will examine what national legislation is required to give it effect.
The establishment of specialist units within the Garda Síochána, such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda bureau of fraud investigation and the Garda national drug unit, have enabled the gardaí to tackle organised crime effectively. These specialist units all operate under the assistant commissioner in charge of national support services and have direct responsibility for addressing organised crime. Strategies pursued by the gardaí include focusing on the structures and systems which support the illegal drug trade, maintaining an intelligence led approach in targeting and dismantling drug distribution networks and depriving criminal networks of their assets.
The national drugs strategy sets out a framework for action for the period 2001-08. Under this strategy, all elements of drugs policy were brought together in a single framework for the first time. Drugs policy is being delivered across the four pillars of supply reduction, demand reduction, prevention and treatment and research.
A steering group under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is currently conducting a mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. This review will focus on identifying priorities for future action and enable the group to refocus the strategy, if necessary, for the remaining period up to 2008. My Department and the relevant associated agencies are involved in this review. At this mid-way point in the strategy, the Garda Síochána has far exceeded its drug seizure targets and continues to achieve considerable successes.
