Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2013
5. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence the number of drugs seizures that the Naval Service has been involved in during each of the past ten years; the value of each of the seizures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6451/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Naval Service plays a vital role in the State's fight against drug smuggling as a member of the joint task force on drug interdiction, together with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. While the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling, and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána, the White Paper on Defence in 2000 provided a security role for the Naval Service and Air Corps to assist these authorities in this important work. This is another area in which the two Departments overlap. The joint task force on drug interdiction was established in 1993 as a Government measure to improve law enforcement on drugs and it consists of members of An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and the Naval Service.
Naval Service maritime patrols and surveillance operations are carried out on a 24-7 basis with a commitment to having a minimum of three ships on patrol at all times. In the last ten years, the Naval Service was involved in two significant drug interdiction operations, one in 2007 in Dunlough Bay and one off the west Cork coast in 2008. These inter-agency operations resulted in the seizure of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine which had an approximate street value of €1.2 billion.
In addition, the Naval Service, as a member of the joint task force, is committed to an international initiative, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics. 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. It was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international coordination force with access to national tasking agencies.
Also, the acquisition of the two new offshore patrol vessels for the Naval Service, to be delivered in 2014 and 2015 respectively, together with a continuous process of refurbishment on the other vessels, will ensure that the service can continue to carry out its drug interdiction and other roles in the challenging sea conditions off our coast.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality had the opportunity to visit Flag Officer Mark Mellett and his team in Cork late last year. I was mightily impressed with Flag Officer Mellett's vision for the Naval Service. The innovation displayed and the partnerships the service has formed with academic and other institutions are remarkable. The service has set itself the objective of being the world leader, a high ambition but when we see the operation in Cork, and the way the service has worked to develop operations in conjunction with engineering companies, where it can look at machine gunnery without having to go to sea by working with computerised models, is incredible.
When we see the operations the Naval Service carries out and the way it goes about its work, it is a service to be proud of and we must give it the resources it deserves. We are all aware of the operations and great successes it has enjoyed in recent years but we are seeing heroin and other drugs on the streets now and the concern is that much of this comes by sea. We must support one of the most innovative sectors of the public service and we must give it what it needs to do the job.
I agree with everything Deputy Mac Lochlainn says. The Naval Service is an outstanding arm of the Defence Forces and Flag Officer Mark Mellett is doing a fantastic job.
There is their linkage with the private sector in seeking to participate in developments that would be of use to the Naval Service and which may result in products being created which could provide job creation opportunities. I am proud of the sophistication of what is happening in the college there.
The Deputy can be assured that I am extremely supportive of everything that is happening there, as is the Government. I very much welcomed the visit that members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality paid to Haulbowline. It gave an interesting insight into the innovation that is taking place. I would certainly encourage Members who are interested in these areas to pay a similar visit.
