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Organised Crime

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Ceisteanna (264)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

326 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate the number of known criminal gang members currently in prison; the number likely to be released over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23031/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The emergence in recent years of criminal gangs has had significant implications for the management of Irish prisons. Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside of prison. Prison management have to ensure that the various factions are kept apart and, as far as possible, that gang members do not have influence over other inmates or criminal activities outside the prisons. Gang members are being managed on a daily basis through segregation and separation throughout the prison system. Membership/allegiance to these criminal gangs fluctuates on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated. Intelligence on the ground would suggest that at any given time between 30% and 40% of the prison population has links to a criminal gang.

A number of initiatives have been introduced with a view to preventing identified gang leaders from conducting criminal activities while in custody and also to prevent them exerting inappropriate influence over other persons. For example, a number of serious criminal gang members awaiting trial or sentence are now segregated in a specific area of Cloverhill Prison.

The security initiatives undertaken by the Operational Security Group have made it more difficult for prisoners to engage in illegal activities while in prison. These initiatives include the introduction of passive and active drug detection dogs and the installation of airport style security including scanners and x-ray machines. Core functions of this group include gathering and collating intelligence information on criminal gang members in Irish prisons, carrying out intelligence led searches and preventing the flow of contraband (including mobile phones) into the prisons.

I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide the number of prisoners in this category who are due to be released in the next 12 months without the manual examination of prisoner files. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

However, there is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues including the operation of criminal gangs. Gardaí are also provided with reports detailing the release dates of this category of prisoner.

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