As the Deputy points, out the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime Annual Drug Report 2007 identifies that the level of heroin production in Afghanistan significantly increased in 2006 and that the consumption of cocaine grew in Europe last year.
The Government views with concern such global developments and any potential rise in the level of any illegal drugs being trafficked into this country. The drugs situation is dynamic and ever changing and we must ensure that our policies are flexible to meet those changes.
I assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána will continue to direct its drug law enforcement activities in a focused way through intelligence driven operations at national, regional, divisional and district level.
Underpinning this approach, An Garda Síochána will continue to invoke a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include the following:
identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this State;
conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing;
working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade; and
working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.
The Garda National Drugs Unit co-ordinates large scale operations against drug dealing-trafficking and unit personnel either investigate such cases themselves or assist local investigation teams. Additional assistance is also available from other specialised Garda support units, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. A joint Garda National Drugs Unit-Criminal Assets Bureau initiative is in place which targets local dealers. Furthermore, the detection and prevention of drug related crime is, of course, a matter for all members of An Garda Síochána.
Significant drug seizures, including the considerable amounts of heroin and cocaine continuing to be seized in recent times, have been made as a result of these operations. The operations, which are ongoing, continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and have led to the arrest in recent times of major criminals both based here and abroad who are involved in the drugs trade.and such measures will continue to be vigorously pursued by An Garda Síochána.
With regard to resources, the extent of resources both in financial and personnel terms, which continues to be made available to An Garda Síochána is proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure that the Garda authorities will continue to implement targeted, intelligence and high intensity operations against organised crime with a special focus on drugs crime.
As the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel within the Garda organisation on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements.
The assignment of Garda personnel throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. This takes place against the background of the unprecedented expansion of An Garda Síochána which has taken and will continue to take place increasing the overall strength of the Garda to 16,000.
I assure the Deputy that additional Garda resources are coming on stream all the time. These additional human resources will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in the allocation of additional manpower to areas most in need, including areas with a significant drug problem.
In conjunction with this, the Government are ensuring that our law enforcement agencies continue to have a strong legislative platform from which to operate in their work in tackling those involved in such criminal activity. While we already have a strong legislative package in place for tackling drug trafficking, the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007 provides for further measures which will enhance the powers of the Garda in the investigation and prosecution of drug offences.
Undoubtedly, drug misuse remains one of the most complex social ills faced globally. Our drug law enforcement response is a vital feature of our overall response in addressing the issue but we cannot just look at the issue from a supply reduction perspective only.
Rather, we must examine the drugs problem in the wider context in which it takes place and take cognisance of the fact that the demand for and the use of illegal drugs is what fuels the drugs trade. The measures that we have in place to address the problem must take account of this.
The Government remains resolutely committed to tackling the problem through our National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The national strategy addresses the problem under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague and Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy. My Department's remit in this area, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction, and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework. Finally, I assure the Deputy that the Government is very clear that there is no room for complacency in our response to the issue of drug misuse. Under my own area of remit, I would stress again that the enforcement of the law relating to drugs continues to be a key element in the Government's policing priorities.
