Donal Moynihan
Ceist:52 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to initiate the formation of an organised crime unit within the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime. [18438/96]
Written Answers. - Organised Crime Unit.
I am satisfied that the establishment of such a separate organised crime unit is not the appropriate response to the problem of organised crime, given the nature of such crime in this country. I do not consider that organised crime can be neatly separated from other types of crime.
At present, there is already a range of specialist units operating within the Garda Síochána which targets organised crime. These include the Criminal Assets Bureau, the National Drugs Unit, the Central Detective Unit, the Investigation Unit and Bureau of Fraud Investigations. I am satisfied, from my contacts with the Garda Commissioner, that the activities of these units are sufficiently co-ordinated and focused to deal adequately with organised crime and that the existing structures and their management are best suited to meet the challenge posed by organised crime. The commissioner has also informed me that there is no practical policing justification for a new and separate organised crime unit and he keeps all of the above units under review.