Written Answers. - Doping in Sport.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
71
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that one of the main risk factors leading to the spread of doping in sport is the increasing involvement of criminal elements due to the fact that clandestine laboratories within and outside the European Union are producing banned substances; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this illegal industry is at the root of trafficking substances within the European Union and that studies carried out by the Council of Europe have calculated this illegal trafficking to be worth a billion ECUs per year.
[6659/99]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
85
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the discussions, if any, he has had with his counterparts in the European Union to ensure that the police and judicial co-operation provided for in the treaty establishing the European Union also applies in the fight against the growing criminal element involved in doping in sport, which is often a transnational problem.
[6660/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 85 together.
My Department and the Garda Síochána participate fully in the various working groups in place within the European Union, at which a complete range of policing and law enforcement issues are discussed. In addition, they have informed me that they are aware of other discussions taking place within the EU, that fall primarily within the areas of responsibility of my Cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
At a meeting of the Pompidou Group held in Strasbourg in October 1998, which was attended by representatives of my Department and of the Department of Health and Children, the non-sports use of drugs was discussed. At that meeting it was generally agreed that there is a need for regulation, police and customs co-operation and harm reduction and the meeting was informed that the Council of Europe was considering setting up a specific structure or group to deal with this particular issue.
My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, has informed me that an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Europe Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention, on 5 November 1998 agreed a number of priority issues for action by the monitoring group or at national level including a review of national laws dealing with anti-doping measures and the promotion of closer co-operation between police, customs and other relevant authorities with a view to reducing the supply of doping agents to sport.
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation has also informed me of an EU Non Paper which was presented to an informal Council of Sports Ministers in Bonn in January of this year, which calls for greater co-ordination and information exchange programmes within the framework of police and judicial co-operation to prevent further growth in criminal activity in this area.
In relation to the question regarding the production of these substances, my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, under whose authority the Misuse of Drugs Act falls, has informed me that his Department has doubts regarding the significance of the involvement of clandestine laboratories in the manufacture of banned substances for use in doping in sport as the vast majority of such substances are available as legitimate medicinal products in many countries throughout Europe and the world.
The Garda Síochána, as a matter of course, engage in extensive operational co-operation with law enforcement agencies within the European Union and beyond in relation to matters of mutual concern. This is in addition to Irish representation at the appropriate fora dealing with this question.
The Garda authorities have informed me that there is no evidence or intelligence known to the Garda Síochána to substantiate the suggestions in this question, as far as this jurisdiction is concerned. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that any cases involving breaches of the Misuse of Drugs Act will be thoroughly investigated by the Garda.
