Vol. 563 No. 2
135 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the apparent rise in organised crime, regularly resulting in fatalities; the measures he has taken to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7462/03]
242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason organised crime can with apparent ease invest in property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7577/03]
243 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the sectors to which organised crime is most attracted for investment and money laundering purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7578/03]
244 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to put drug barons out of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7579/03]
245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he has taken to combat organised crime in the various regions and divisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7580/03]
248 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the exact number of gangland feuds currently in progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7583/03]
250 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of known money laundering sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7585/03]
252 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which he intends to curtail the existence of drug dealers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7587/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 242 to 245 inclusive, 248, 250 and 252 together.
A broad range of strong legislation is available to the Garda Síochana to enable serious and organised crime to be confronted effectively. Our criminal legislative framework reflects international developments to respond to the growth of organised crime and specific measures enacted to meet our particular domestic situation. Factors which prompted action at both levels were the scale of profits available from drugs trafficking in particular, the organised nature of the illicit trade and the investment of the proceeds of serious crime in legitimate assets.
In the area of financial investigation the measures directed at the offence of money laundering, and the related compliance obligations including the mandatory reporting of suspicious financial transactions, have been significant. A major feature has been the fact that, since the beginning, the offence of money laundering extended to the proceeds of both drugs trafficking and other criminal activity. This enabled our legislation to anticipate changes in the concept of money laundering as the nature of the offence developed. It is the view of the Garda authorities that the primary source of laundered money in this jurisdiction is drugs trafficking.
The escalating activities of organised criminals prompted the Government in 1996 to supplement the measures already taken. A legislative package, also aimed at the proceeds of crime, was enacted which established the Criminal Assets Bureau and which gave the bureau the legal framework to identify and to deny criminals the proceeds of serious crime. Criminal assets targeted by the bureau include established high cash businesses, real property, vehicle and investment products. The bureau is also mandated to fully apply the revenue Acts to profits derived from criminal activity. Revenue actions have proven to be particularly effective in the bureau's execution of its statutory functions.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that organised crime in Ireland is not controlled by any one major group. Small groups tend to come together at different times to involve themselves in a particular crime and then disband. A number of these criminal groups resort to feuding from time to time related to their criminal activities. Other feuds may involve families and extended families.
At a national operational level, the Garda Síochána combat organised crime, including drugs trafficking, in a number of ways. In addition to identifying and seizing the proceeds of crime, the Garda national support services deal with the major crime and enforcement areas. While the investigation of crime rests with local Garda officers, the national support services provide assistance to serious crime investigations through a range of dedicated expertise and skills.
