Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 May 2012
151 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Acer; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions secured to date; the amount of stolen property recovered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Acer is one of the specific burglary related initiatives which are being implemented in each Garda Region in support of Operation Fiacla, which is a nationwide operation targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries. Operation Acer has a focussed, targeted and integrated approach to tackling criminals involved in committing burglaries in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The operation provides both a preventative and detection element and focuses on geographical areas and specific targets.
I am further informed that since the commencement of Operation Acer on 15 March 2012, up to 14 May, 398 persons have been arrested, 611 charges have been preferred and 19 summonses have been applied for. To date two persons have been convicted by the courts and sentenced to terms of imprisonment.
I am also informed that property worth €170,000, including large amounts of cash, electrical goods and high value jewellery items has been recovered since Operation Acer began. In addition, a number of vehicles, with an approximate value of €500,000, have been recovered following burglary incidents.
152 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Marton; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions secured to date; if this operation is still active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24470/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOperation Marton is a policing operation which was commenced in 2008 by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The Operation involved the targeting of suspected trafficking and/or smuggling of non-EEA nationals into this jurisdiction, through Northern Ireland. A significant level of cross-border cooperation between the law enforcement authorities in Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána, through the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), formed part of Operation Marton.
Investigations carried out in the course of Operation Marton resulted in the identification of a number of non-EEA nationals, who were suspected to have been smuggled into this State through Northern Ireland. Action taken by both thePSNI and An Garda Síochána led to the arrest in this jurisdiction of four individuals who entered this State illegally. Charges in respect of breaches of immigration related legislation were initiated in respect of these individuals. One was convicted in respect of a charge relating to failure to possess a valid visa and was made subject to section 1(1) of the Probation of Offenders Act; a deportation order was issued in respect of another of the individuals.
The law enforcement authorities in both jurisdictions concerned engaged in a series of coordinated actions on Thursday 5 June 2008. In the course of that day, An Garda Síochána conducted searches in six locations across the four counties of Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Louth. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI arrested two suspects, one of whom was subsequently charged in respect of six counts of facilitating the illegal entry of illegal immigrants into Ireland, through Northern Ireland. However, these charges were subsequently withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland.
During the course of one of the searches undertaken by An Garda Síochána, a twelve year old female was discovered. This minor was suspected to have been trafficked into this country for the purpose of domestic servitude. She was placed in the care of the Health Service Executive. A file was subsequently forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that one person be prosecuted for a suspected breach of the provisions of section 29(2) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Offences Act 2001. On 20 January 2011, at Dublin Circuit Appeal Court, a sentence of four months imprisonment, which was suspended, was imposed on the person who was charged with the offence. It was not possible to bring charges under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, which did not come into operation until afterwards.
In addition, a request for assistance was received by An Garda Síochána from the Northern Ireland law enforcement authorities, pursuant to the provisions of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, in the course of Operation Marton. An Garda Síochána subsequently provided information which had been requested, to PSNI, through the aforementioned mutual assistance process.
While involvement by An Garda Síochána in this particular operation has concluded, An Garda Síochána and the PSNI continue to liaise closely in dealing with all matters concerning human trafficking and related criminal activities.
