Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
543. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the degree to which she and her Department continue to combat the various levels of organised crime operating in this jurisdiction or internationally; the extent to which she continues to ensure that An Garda Síochána has sufficient resources to deal with the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34349/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to work closely with international partners to combat transnational crime and has already had significant success in this regard.
Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in the overall response. An Garda Síochána has strong and strategic partnerships in place at international level targeting drug trafficking, including working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL and Europol and participating in the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N) based in Lisbon.
I wish to acknowledge the work of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB). GNDOCB continues to have significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. GNDOCB’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. GNDOCB also works in cooperation with international law enforcement partners. An Garda Síochána also uses multi-disciplinary approaches to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted. Such approaches include the use of money-laundering legislation and the powers available to CAB under the proceeds of crime legislation.
An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in street-level dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level through Operation Tara. Some recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure last week of cigarettes with an estimated value of €10 Million with a loss to the Exchequer of €7.5 million. Last month, also through Operation Tara, Gardaí arrested a man following the seizure of over €1.5 million in cocaine and cash in Dublin and Meath.
I am sure the Deputy will agree, it is important that communities work together with An Garda Síochána in relation to such behaviour. Reporting by the public of illegal activity, including drug dealing or intimidation, is important to assist in this work and there are a range of channels to do so, including through the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. I encourage anyone with information in that regard to contact An Garda Síochána in this way.
More broadly, the Deputy will be interested to know, I am progressing the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which will increase the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from ten years to life in prison. These new laws will ensure that An Garda Síochána and our Courts have the tools they need to take firm and decisive action to deal with our most serious criminals.
Justice Plan 2023 commits to working to break the links between gangs and the children they seek to recruit. This includes draft legislation to outlaw the grooming of children into a life of crime. In parallel, we will also continue to roll out the evidence-based community intervention programme “Greentown”, which seeks to break the link between children who are engaged, or at risk of engaging, with a criminal gang.
