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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drugs Seizure.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

9 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to any participation by officers of Customs and Excise in the landing of drugs at Castletownbere, County Cork, or in their subsequent seizure in November 1995; whether he will make a statement as to whether the drugs in question were imported into this State in accordance with official procedures; whether they were liable to seizure by officers of Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5697/96]

Peadar Clohessy

Ceist:

26 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to any participation by officers of Customs and Excise in the landing of drugs at Castletownbere, County Cork, or in their subsequent seizure in November 1995; whether the drugs in question were imported into the State in accordance with official procedures; if they were liable to seizure by officers of Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5553/96]

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

30 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to any participation by officers of Customs and Excise in the landing of drugs at Castletownbere, County Cork, or in their subsequent seizure in November 1995; whether the drugs in question were imported into the State in accordance with official procedures; if they were liable to seizure by officers of Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5552/96]

Máirín Quill

Ceist:

39 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Finance whether officers of Customs and Excise were informed by the Garda Síochána of any proposal to import cannabis into the State by the Garda Síochána in October or November 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5546/96]

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

40 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Finance whether officers of Customs and Excise were informed by the Garda Síochána of any proposal to import cannabis into the State by the Garda Síochána in October or November 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5547/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 26, 30, 39 and 40 together.

This matter is primarily one for the Garda and is, I understand, the subject of ongoing investigations by them. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Customs was not involved in any landing of prohibited drugs at Castletownbere at any time and was not informed by anybody of a proposal to land such drugs at Castletownbere. It is the case that the possibility of a major smuggling operation at an unspecified future date was advised to Customs by the Garda at some time beforehand, but no details of any such operations were made available to Customs at any time.

By prior arrangement with the Garda, Customs was present at the scene in Urlingford, County Kilkenny, on 8 November 1995, where a large seizure of cannabis resin was made. On that occasion, the seizure had been made by the gardaí prior to the arrival of Customs. I have no information about the circumstances surrounding the actual importation of the drugs seized. I should point out that while Customs is, in the normal course, the agency with primary responsibility for intercepting and seizing drugs illegally imported, the Garda also has full seizure powers.

As I said already, this matter is primarily one for the Garda and is, I understand, the subject of ongoing investigations by them. I fully support the comments made in the House last week by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, about the need for great care in dealing with what is obviously a very sensitive matter. The Government is determined to do everything in its power to deal effectively with the problem of trafficking in illegal drugs.

Will the Minister confirm that no information was leaked by the Customs which compromised this operation? Will he further confirm that the briefing given to certain persons in the media to the effect that Customs officials had compromised the operation by leaking information to it was a malicious falsehood?

I am not in a position to confirm or deny whether there was a leak from any source; Customs or anywhere else. I do not have that information.

Last week the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners indicated to the Committee of Public Accounts that he checked the allegation made in the media that Customs officers leaked information and, therefore, compromised the operation and was advised by the Secretary of the Department of Justice that the Garda no longer contended that was the case. Will the Minister agree that any indication that his officers leaked information to the media and thereby compromised the so-called seizure of drugs at Urlingford was a malicious falsehood?

Let us be slow to make charges at this juncture. If charges are to be made there will be a procedure for doing so.

I am not making any charges.

It should be done by way of substantive motion rather than across the floor of the House.

This is a very important issue. I replied to five questions and gave full consideration to my reply. A leak of information was not referred to in any of those questions. If the Deputy has a specific point to make in regard to an allegation concerning a leak of information I would prefer him to put down a question and I will answer to the best of my ability, having regard to the information available to me. The Deputy will recognise that it would not be helpful to our collective and shared interests for me to speculate on matters about which I do not have detailed and precise information.

I asked the Minister to confirm some of the material given to the Committee of Public Accounts by the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. As regards what he termed a seizure at Urlingford, which I dispute, does he accept that the Customs officers were brought to Urlingford on that occasion after the media had been notified that a "seizure" would be made?

For obvious reasons I am concerned about reference to persons outside the House. They have no redress against charges made in the House.

I do not know why the Chair is so defensive. I am asking a straightforward question.

I have advised how Members should proceed if they wish to prefer formal charges.

I am not making charges against anyone.

Perhaps the Deputy's tone is sometimes misinterpreted.

Question No. 10.

I am entitled to an answer and not to be swept off the stage by the Chair or by the Minister. I asked legitimate questions but did not receive an answer. The Minister should be aware of matters of which the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners is aware. He should be in a position to defend the integrity of officers under him from the malicious charge that they leaked information to the media and compromised the so-called seizure of drugs at Urlingford.

I am aware the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners spoke at length to the relevant committee of this House.

Did the Minister read what he said?

I have read the transcript. If the Deputy, instead of playing games, wanted to elucidate information in this House and put down a question to that effect, I would have gladly answered it. He did not so do.

He spoke after the time limit for questions as the Minister knows well.

I will proceed to other questions now.

Since the Deputy has asked me a question, I will answer it. With regard to whether the Customs officials were excluded from the Urlingford scene and were only brought in after the event——

I did not say they were excluded; I said they were notified after the media were notified.

By prior arrangement with the Garda, Customs officers were at the scene at Urlingford, County Kilkenny, on the date in question, 8 November.

We have now passed into ordinary time. The House may take it that Questions Nos. 10 and 11 will be taken in ordinary time.

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