Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2009
79 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the size of recent drug seizures; and the steps he will take to deal with this issue under the new national drugs strategy. [41671/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service have achieved significant success in relation to the number of drug seizures, and the amount and value of the drugs involved. I congratulate both organisations in this regard. The ongoing co-operation between the two agencies, and their international counterparts, and their focus on an intelligence-led approach, has proven particularly effective.
Numbers in the Garda National Drugs Unit, the primary unit within An Garda Síochána charged with responsibility for law enforcement in relation to drug supply, have increased and additional Divisional Drugs Units have also been established. The work of these Units is supported by the Organised Crime Unit, now established on a full-time basis, and by the Criminal Assets Bureau, among others. At the same time, Gardaí generally deal with drug-related issues as they arise on an on-going basis. Drug seizures by the Customs Service have also significantly increased. Their Coastal Watch Programme has been in place since 2001, a new Customs patrol vessel has been commissioned, mobile X-ray scanning technology has been acquired and the number of drug detector dog teams has also been increased.
The objectives of the Supply Reduction Pillar of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 are:
to significantly reduce the volume of illicit drugs;
to prevent the emergence of new markets for illicit drugs;
to disrupt the activities of organised criminal networks;
to target the income generated through illicit drug trafficking; and
to reduce community drug problems.
The actions of the Strategy also envisage an increased emphasis on community policing, including through the continued roll-out of Local Policing Fora and the inclusion of drugs issues in a more central way in the work of Joint Policing Committees. Also, I recently announced the extension of the "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" campaign that has proven effective. At the same time the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 will continue its focus on demand reduction measures, across prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, in combination with these supply reduction measures to achieve a comprehensive response to the overall drugs problem.
