Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
104. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has held discussions with the Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr. David Ford, on the proposal by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, BIPA, for the establishment of a permanent cross-Border task force aimed at targeting organised criminal gangs involved with cross-Border illicit trade; and if she supports the proposal. [35320/15]
View answerAs the Minister knows, BIPA conducted an extensive investigation into cross-Border crime over the course of almost a year. To tackle criminality, one of the BIPA's key recommendations was for a cross-Border task force involving the policing and revenue services on this island and with a dedicated all-Ireland focus. Does the Minister support this proposal and will she work with her counterpart in the North, Mr. David Ford, to bring it about?
Combatting organised crime in whatever guise is among the policy priorities that the Government set out this year and is an operational priority for An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. It is well recognised that organised crime seeks to exploit the Border. Cross-Border crime and the people involved pose serious issues. I have held many discussions with the Northern Minister, Mr. Ford, about the challenges presented by cross-Border organised crime as well as our responses to same. Recently, we discussed these challenges at a seminar in Sligo on cross-Border organised crime, where I was impressed to see the staff of the Garda and the PSNI working closely together to target this problem. Down the years, many initiatives have resulted from such discussions.
I support the valuable contribution made by the BIPA's report on cross-Border crime. Well done to all involved. A key feature of the ongoing work is the inter-agency nature of law enforcement co-operation, in that it involves the two police forces and the two customs services on the island as well as the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and the UK's National Crime Agency.
Two cross-Border enforcement groups that target fuel fraud and tobacco fraud, respectively, have been in operation for some years and have made a considerable contribution to operational co-operation in the area. Recently, at the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, I put into the public arena some of the up-to-date figures on, for example, fuel smuggling and recent successes. Given the fact that 131 garages have been closed around the country, this is a serious issue that requires attention. The Revenue Commissioners are active in this regard and have made combatting fuel laundering one of their priorities. It is implementing a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem, as Deputy Niall Collins knows. However, I am open to considering any further action such as that recommended in the report.
I am pleased to hear the Minister is open to the suggestion on diesel laundering, cigarette smuggling, cattle rustling, petrol stretching and other types of criminality. Wherever there is a border in Europe, never mind on the island of Ireland, there is an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of it. The fact that we have good co-operation between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána and between the two revenue organisations on the island means it would not be a considerable step to set up a joint task force with a dedicated focus on criminality across the region. As the Minister knows, this criminality has extended to murder and attacks on republicans across the Border region. Mr. Frank McCabe, a senior republican, was targeted by criminals. His son was seriously injured and almost killed; he lost an eye and is still recovering. There are many others. As Sinn Féin justice spokesperson, I can speak with authority on the fact that when we stand up to these people, we put our lives on the line. The Government should establish a joint task force to tackle once and for all these people who are profiteering and taking advantage of the Border.
Obviously, it is important that there be absolute clarity from all of us on how we view these issues. Cross-Border crime continues to be a very significant issue. These matters are kept under constant review at an operational level in light of the various changing operational demands and the analysis of crime trends. Certainly, it is an operational decision as to whether another task force is necessary. There are two already. We need to ensure we make the very best use of the resources in An Garda Síochána and also the cross-Border resources. There is a clear need to identify this issue as a priority on both sides of the Border. I have no doubt but that it is identified as an absolute priority.
Let me put on the floor of the House the facts on the Revenue Commissioners, which show the success of some of the operations. We do not hear enough about this sometimes. The statistics also show the scale of the problem. In 2014 alone, there were 1,109 detections of marked fuel oil, and two oil laundries were detected and shut down, resulting in the seizure of 50,340 litres of oil. There were 5,852 seizures of cigarettes by the Revenue Commissioners, with 53 million cigarettes seized, to a value of €25.5 million. Very significant operations are being carried out in the Border area to tackle fuel and cigarette smuggling and other illegal activity, which must be dealt with head-on.
I am mindful that the recommendation from the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly follows its meetings with senior police officers, county managers and a range of key stakeholders. I met senior gardaí and PSNI officers in my role as justice spokesperson and strongly believe that we need a joint task force. We need to join up the capacity on the island to tackle the problem. I do not need to remind the Minister that the problem has cost us hundreds of millions of euro over the years, which money could be invested in our health service or education system. The illegal activity damages legitimate businesses which have struggled through the austerity era. I would like to see a dedicated focus. Every single Deputy and Senator in these Houses would be supportive of such a proposal. The Minister should consider joining up the resources on this island, working with her counterpart in the North and delivering a clear message to those on both sides of the Border that there will be zero tolerance of the tiny minority who are taking huge amounts of money from our revenue and plaguing communities in the Border area.
There is zero tolerance of these activities. There are currently two dedicated cross-Border enforcement groups. I assure the Deputy that this will continue. If there is any reason to take further operational decisions on the exact format of the response, they will be taken.
