Gay Mitchell
Ceist:13 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the plans he has to deal with the drug epidemic in parts of Dublin.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Illegal Drug Dealing.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:45 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of known drug pushers now in the country; if this number has increased in the past few years; whether any action to combat the problem is proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 45 together.
I am aware that drug dealing activites are taking place in certain parts of Dublin. However, the evidence available to the Garda does not support the suggestion that these activities are of epidemic proportions or anything like it. The areas concerned receive on-going attention from Garda patrols, from the Drug Squad and from other specialist units. The Garda authorities have informed me that they monitor the situation in Dublin and throughout the country very closely, and that they constantly review and adapt their strategies to deal with the drugs problem. These strategies include close liaison with customs authorities and continuous international co-operation with police forces abroad so as to curb the supply of illicit drugs to this country.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there has been some increase in recent years both in the level of drug seizures in this country and in the number of prosecutions for drug related offences.
Particulars of quantities and types of drugs seized, mostly cannabis, are published in the Commissioner's Annual Reports on Crime, copies of which are available in the Dáil Library. These reports also contain details of prosecutions for drugs offences, again mainly cannabis related. I might add that the number of prosecutions brought under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1984, for the sale or supply of drugs, increased from 109 in 1988 to 170 in the year 1990.
While these figures would seem to indicate an increase in the number of persons dealing in drugs, the Garda are satisfied that the measures taken by them to counteract the problem have resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of detections. They are also satisfied that there are major organised groups involved in drug trafficking at present.
I would like to assure the House that the problem of drugs is one which will continue to receive the highest priority. Everybody concerned about the matter is acutely aware of the need for constant vigilance, aware of the havoc which the criminals concerned can visit upon our society and aware also of the need to bear in mind that the role of parents, teachers and other agencies caring for our young people is at least as important as effective Garda response in dealing with the problem of drug abuse.
I will not quarrel with the Minister's definition of the word "epidemic", but I can assure the House that there is a very serious drugs problem in certain areas of Dublin. May I ask the Minister if it is intended to introduce legislation shortly to give effect to the report of the Law Reform Commission on the seizure of drugs, which was recommended by the former Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism of which I had the honour to be vice-chairman.
A very good vice-chairman.
Is he aware of the need for a diplomatic offensive at EC level against the exporting countries which continue to deliberately turn a blind eye to the fact that they are exporting these drugs which are finding their way here, through places like Amsterdam? Would the Minister consider that legislation is required to deal with tenants and residents who constantly prey on their neighbours and that the local authorities and the local communities are not in a position to deal with them?
In relation to the Law Reform Commission's report, as I made clear this morning, each piece of legislation in relation to the confiscation of the assets of those involved in drug trafficking and in crime generally has been approved by Government. The legislation is with the parliamentary draftsman at the moment and I hope to publish it this session, but it is highly unlikely that it will be debated this session because of the volume of work on the Dáil Programme. However, it will be published this session.
As far as co-operation at European level is concerned, I can assure the Deputy that through Trevi, the organisation of the member states of the European Community, there is considerable co-operation at all levels, not just in drugs but in organised crime generally. The drugs issue was the principal point taken by the Irish Presidency of the EC up to end-June last year. At the Trevi meeting in June last year a programme of action was agreed to tackle the whole question of drug trafficking and organised crime. That programme was actively followed by the Italian Presidency, is being followed now by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Community and I expect further action at the June meeting in Luxembourg. There is also co-operation at UN level. The whole question of drugs coming into Community warehousing and from there going to other countries is being tackled by the police forces of the EC who are now co-operating very closely.
On the question of neighbours I would appreciate if the Deputy would elaborate on that point.
The problem is that in many areas the drug trafficker is known to his neighbours. He or she is usually either a tenant of a local authority, a resident in the locality, perhaps a tenant purchaser or a person who has taken out an ordinary mortgage, and local communities have no power to take steps to have that person removed from the vicinity. Would the Minister consider introducing legislation empowering some authority to remove these people from a community where they are preying on others, particularly young people?
I have a couple of other questions to ask the Minister and perhaps I could dispose of them while I am on my feet. Is the Minister aware that there is strong co-operation between the Garda authorities and the police in London? It is considered that there is a two way trafficking route between the two countries and when the Garda and British police become aware of one route the traffickers switch to a different route — for example, instead of importing the drugs to Britain and bringing them here, they import them here and bring them into Britain. Does the Minister see the necessity for a joint drugs enforcement agency between this country and Britain? Does he consider that training should be provided for legislators and judges on the types of drugs that are available, such as cannabis and heroin?
I thought I was fairly well informed on drugs from the problems I witnessed in my constituency during a previous epidemic but I only realised after a considerable time, for instance, that heroin can be smoked. Judges and legislators do not know a lot about drugs. Would the Minister agree that such courses for legislators and judges would be very useful in stamping out the problem?
On the first point I believe that in some areas suspected traffickers are residing in local authority tenancies and it is a matter for the local authorities — they have the power under their tenancy agreements — to take action. However, I strongly discourage the activities of vigilante groups within communities who attack homes. If somebody has knowledge of the activities of a neighbour or suspects him of being involved in drug trafficking, making drugs available to our young people and destroying their lives, the name of the individual and whatever information is available should be given to the Garda and I assure the House they will act on it immediately.
Two weeks ago I had a meeting with the deputy commissioner and the senior gardaí involved in the drugs area; two one day seminars are being held for all the gardaí involved in the drugs area to make sure that all resources are used to the maximum effect. I assure the House that there is the closest co-operation not only between London and Dublin, but with our EC partners. However, I would not go as far as advocating a joint police force but, as I said, they are working in the closest possible co-operation. The idea of a training and educational process for legislators and the Judiciary has merit. I will consider it and take appropriate action.
What practical steps have been taken at European level to face up to the difficulties which will be experienced on the completion of the Single Market on 1 January 1993 in relation to the disappearance of boundaries? Can the Minister foresee a situation in the not too distant future where a specialist drug squad within Europe could be developed to deal with this problem which affects the whole Community?
That is a very wide subject. I will partly respond now but I suggest that the Deputy submits a question for the next Question Time when I will give him a detailed response in relation to the measures being taken. However, the UN Convention on Confiscation and the Vienna Convention are being operated. The action programme agreed in Dublin is also being implemented. One idea mooted is that we would have one bank of information on all known traffickers throughout Europe. There is close co-operation between the European police forces and the police forces in producing countries.
There is also very close co-operation between the European police forces, acting through Trevi, and the United States and some of the countries in the former Eastern bloc because of transit through their countries to Europe. For example, drugs come from Colombia to America and from America to Europe, which is a problem. There is also co-operation with the Moroccan and North African countries, between police forces in Europe and those in North Africa. There is a network of contacts and co-operation to break the chain of supply and to stop the chemicals needed by the Colombians in the manufacture of cocaine and other substances. Some of those chemicals are legitimately manufactured for other purposes in Europe but we want the illegitimate trade to be stopped. However, as I said, I will commit myself to giving the Deputy a detailed response to the various points if he submits an oral or written question.
Is the Minister aware that in a recent Garda journal, it was stated that the drug squad, particularly the undercover plain clothes members, were severely under-resourced? Will the Minister look at that area to ensure that resources in terms of personnel — and others — are available to them? Will he agree that that is probably the most effective way to defeat the pernicious trade of drug trafficking?
All areas of Garda operations are kept under review in relation to manpower and resources. I am assured by the commissioner and the deputy commissioner that there is no shortage of resources in this area. I asked whether they needed extra manpower in regard to the drugs squad and I was assured that their present strength is adequate for their needs. Sometimes an over-supply of manpower could mean that they get in one another's way in their activities.
Will the Minister explain why it is mainly cannabis which constitutes the bulk of Garda drugs seizures? As heroin is readily available from London and in most urban areas today involving a large number of addicts, why are the seizures of heroin so small? Will the Minister agree that the present drug problem is worse than it was in the early eighties in so far as at that time it was largely confined to inner city areas, but heroin is now available in virtually every major working class urban area in Dublin and the bigger suburbs——
The Deputy has made his point, he seems to be embarking on a speech.
I did not intend to do that. In spite of that there does not seem to have been a significant increase in the amount of Garda resources to deal with the problem.
The number of persons charged with drug offences in 1990 was 2,071, up 54 per cent, which indicates that Garda resources are adequate. Drugs seizures have increased by 48 per cent in the same period; 70 per cent of all seizures relate to cannabis. The Garda view concerning heroin in Dublin is that there is some sign of increased activity but that it does not constitute a serious problem. The position today is very different from that which prevailed in the early and mid-eighties when bigger quantities of heroin were being handled in a more organised manner by hardened criminals. As a consequence of successful Garda operations, many of these so-called godfathers were imprisoned.
On the statistics available to the Minister, is there any indication of an increase in cocaine, which is, if you like, the rich man's drug, apart from the drugs, available on the streets?
It is interesting to note that there has been no indication of crack — or cocaine — being available. Crack has not, thankfully, reared its head in Ireland.
Cocaine has.
That disposes of questions for today.