At Question Time on 2 May 1991 the Minister stated, as reported at column 1995 of the Official Report, that the view of the Garda concerning the heroin problem in Dublin was that there was some sign of increased activity but that it did not constitute a serious problem. I find it very difficult to accept or understand that assessment because in the area of Dublin I represent, in particular the north inner city, heroin is definitely a serious problem. There are two specific locations, one little more than a stone's throw from O'Connell Street and the other close to the Financial Services Centre, where heroin is openly available and on sale on the public streets. There is an equally serious problem in many other parts of Dublin, for example, the main shopping district in Ballyfermot and the general south inner city area where the concentration appears to be on the Thomas Street district.
I listened to the city councillors who represent these areas at the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council last night and they certainly regard the heroin problem as a major and serious one. This leads me to believe that either the Minister or those advising him are out of touch with the extent of the problem on the ground or that we do not want to publicly admit that the problem is so serious.
The Minister also stated on 2 May 1991 at column 1990 of the Official Report that he could reassure the House that the problem of drugs was one which would continue to receive the highest priority. City councillors who represent many areas of Dublin city do not believe him. They say the Ballyfermot shopping district has virtually been taken over by the drug dealers and that despite many appeals for action nothing has happened. The councillors representing the south inner city have called for a special local Garda drug unit for their area but nothing has been done. Increasingly it is my view that the heroin problem does not get a high priority, never mind the highest priority because it is a problem associated almost exclusively with disadvantaged urban working class areas. If there were such a problem in an affluent middle class area of Dublin, there would be a massive Garda response, of that I have no doubt.
In the early eighties, heroin was largely concentrated in the inner city areas. Today, heroin features in most urban working class parts of the city and suburbs. Heroin is directly related to much of the petty crime in the city. The Minister says that the number of crimes committed has been reduced. The fact is that day in and day out the crime of heroin dealing is going on unhindered, unrecorded and unrecognised in the Minister's crime statistics. The Minister stated in columns 1995-96 of 2 May 1991: "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".
Is the Minister aware that one of the top heroin godfathers of the early eighties — a member of the Dunne family — was caught redhanded with almost £500,000 worth of heroin, charged with possession and with intent to supply, and returned for trial, and yet this matter has never been finalised? Is the Minister aware that this same member of the Dunne family is still involved supplying heroin through the many contacts he made in the early eighties; that he is now based in Birmingham and that pushers travel to him and return with their heroin supply to wreak havoc on our communities? Will the Minister say why no action has been taken to bring this individual to justice? He is not alone, other criminal elements from the early eighties are now based in London and other British cities and an increasing number of pushers travel to them for their deadly supplies.
I appeal to the Minister to do the following: first, publicly recognise and state that there is a very serious heroin problem in certain areas of Dublin city; second, set up special local Garda drug units in those areas because it is only by a combination of local knowledge and effective surveillance that the dealers can be dealt with. There is still no such unit in the south inner city where the heroin problem first began and continues today; third, where special Garda units already exist, as in my own area, and they work very well, ensure that they have all the resources they require; and fourth, target those Irish sources of supply now operating from British cities. I ask the Minister to give this matter his highest priority.
Having referred specifically by name to certain parts of Dublin, I have to state that the vast majority of the local people are disgusted with what is going on and want it dealt with urgently. I have not named any area that has not been referred to publicly elsewhere as I do not wish to stigmatise any community.
