Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2012
403 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions taken against criminal gangs or members thereof in each of the past four years to date; the number of court appearances; the number of convictions; the number of cases dismissed or struck out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6926/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that membership of organised crime gangs tends to be fluid and offences committed by members of criminal gangs may or may not be connected with an individual's membership of such gangs.
It is therefore not feasible to provide the Deputy with the particular information sought.
However, the Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, which entered into force on 23 July 2009, introduced a number of provisions which strengthened the law dealing with organised crime.
Since the enactment of that legislation on 23 July 2009, up to 31 January, 2012, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the provisions of the Act have been used on 160 occasions where arrests have been made relating to organised crime.
In the same period, eight individuals have been charged under the legislation, six under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as inserted by section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (participating in organised crime), and two under section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as inserted by section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (directing a criminal organisation). In addition, a number of investigation files are currently with the Law Officers awaiting directions.
