Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2012
7. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of drug arrests to date in 2012; the value of illegal drugs seized by the Gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39089/12]
View answerThe Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that provisional figures for the period January to August 2012 indicate that a total 11,263 drug offences were detected and 9,743 related arrests were made. The Minister is further informed that, based on figures provided to An Garda Síochána by the Forensic Science Laboratory in relation to quantities of drugs analysed at the laboratory, drugs with an estimated value of €59.3 million were recorded as seized during the first six months of the year. It should be noted that these seizure data do not include a number of significant seizures made at the end of this period, which remain the subject of further analysis, including the largest ever inland seizure of cocaine made in the jurisdiction. These will be reflected in the Forensic Science Laboratory returns for the third quarter of the year.
The House will recall that in June, as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation targeting organised crime, the Garda national drugs unit, working with colleagues from the Revenue customs service, seized in excess of an estimated 400 kg of cocaine following searches carried out in west Dublin and Kildare and arrested a number of key players involved in the drugs trade.
The House can be assured that An Garda Síochána continues to tackle drug crime proactively in the jurisdiction. In tackling the illicit drug trade, the Garda national drugs unit, working closely with dedicated divisional and district drug units and other national units, including the organised crime unit as well as the Criminal Assets Bureau, targets persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs. Specific strategies have been put in place by An Garda Síochána to address the sale, supply, importation and distribution of illegal drugs, and this approach continues to result in significant drug seizures and the related arrests of those involved in drug trafficking and other forms of criminality.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
In this past week alone a number of further operations undertaken have given rise to significant success. Last weekend, we saw significant Garda operations carried out in Galway and Enniscorthy targeted at cannabis growing houses. A further such operation was carried out in Roscommon yesterday. On Monday, as part of an intelligence-led operation by the Garda national drugs unit and the Waterford divisional drugs unit, in conjunction with the Revenue customs service, a further significant seizure of synthetic drugs with an estimated value of €800,000 was made in Waterford.
The Minister wishes to assure the Deputy that drug law enforcement remains a key priority area for An Garda Síochána and the Government as part of its overall comprehensive approach in tackling the problem of drug misuse under our National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.
We are all agreed that the scourge of the illegal drugs trade needs to be met head-on. The issue of the resourcing of the drugs squad is one for ongoing debate. It also feeds into the issue of the resourcing of An Garda Síochána, be it in respect of a rural or urban Garda stations or replacement of decommissioned vehicles. It must be reiterated, and the Minister of State alluded to this in her reply to Deputy Catherine Murphy, that at the end of the day the buck stops with the Minister. The view is sometimes allowed to float out that these are decisions of the Garda Commissioner. However, as pointed out by the Minister of State, the policing plan is ultimately the property of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister of the day can amend or approve that plan just as the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, can accept or reject the Health Service Executive plan. The buck will stop with the Minister. All these decisions in terms of closing rural Garda stations or not providing gardaí with replacement cars are ultimately decisions of the Minister of the day.
I have a specific question for the Minister of State in regard to illegal drug seizures. Prescription drug dealing is the latest scourge affecting Dublin in particular. We know that in the first three months of this year some 314,000 illegal prescription drugs were seized by An Garda Síochána. Can the Minister of State provide an update in that regard? The update which she provided in respect of the period up to the end of August did not provide a breakdown in respect of prescription drug dealing, which is an issue of huge concern. Also, are any additional strategies to address this issue being explored or prepared for roll-out?
I do not have the information sought by the Deputy. If it is available, I will have it forwarded to him.
The implementation of actions of the national drugs strategy will continue to be overseen by the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall. Deputy Niall Collins's supplementary question highlights more than anything else the interconnectiveness in regard to drugs between health and policing. The Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, has been involved in precisely the area the Deputy has highlighted. There must be more accountability in terms of prescriptions. The notion of legal prescribed drugs is a bigger scourge in some areas than the illegal drugs. We will have to ensure that a focus is very much kept on this area. I will try to get the information the Deputy is seeking.
