Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012
24. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence are the Defence Forces aid to civil powers activity in relation to the monitoring of and the arresting of those who are importing illicit drugs to the State; if he is satisfied that the Defence Forces, by way of the Irish Navy, the Air Corps and Defence Force patrols, are adequately equipped to assist the Gardaí in dealing with this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48455/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra26. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence are the Defence Forces aid to civil powers activity in relation to the monitoring of and the arresting of those who are importing illicit drugs to the State; if he is satisfied that the Defence Forces, by way of the Irish Navy, the Air Corps and Defence Force Patrols, are adequately equipped to assist the Gardaí in dealing with this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48454/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 26 together.
The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling into the country and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence (2000) provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to support the civil authorities in this area and assistance in the prevention of drug smuggling is recognised as a very important part of their duties.
Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a Joint Task Force involving An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating drug trafficking. The Naval Service, as a member of the Joint Task Force, is also committed to an international initiative, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics, (MAOC-N). The Centre which was established in 2007 has led to a greater focus on intelligence exchange amongst countries to tackle large drug shipments by sea. MAOC-N was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international co-ordination force with access to national tasking agencies and requires participation and resources from all active members.An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service have full-time officers based at its Centre in Lisbon. Irish Naval Service personnel travel to the Centre when requested by the Joint Task Force.
The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships, which are tasked with coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State.The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone at any one time.All vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on patrol.As the need arises, Naval Service vessels are deployed on drug interdiction operations. A contract was placed in 2010 for the provision of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service.The acquisition of these new vessels will ensure that the Naval Service can continue to carry out its drug interdiction role in support of the Joint Task Force as well as its other taskings. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second new vessel will follow one year later.
The Air Corps are also involved in efforts to prevent drug trafficking. The Air Corps Maritime Squadron carries out aerial surveillance within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These CASA aircraft have an important surveillance capability which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling our Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Both CASA aircraft underwent mid-life upgrades, which were completed in 2008. The upgrades included the fitting of state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment. The Air Corps has also, on occasion, carried members of the Customs National Drugs Team in an observational capacity for the purposes of monitoring vessels suspected of smuggling drugs. I am satisfied that both the Air Corps and Naval Service have the necessary resources to meet all their operational requirements including the support of the civil authorities in the prevention of drug smuggling into this country.
