Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:
541. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the matter of drug dealers who are informers being allowed to sell drugs in communities; if this is an official policy; if his attention has been drawn to the prevalence of this policy and the quantity of illegal drugs sold here annually due to this policy; and the steps he has taken to measure the impact of this policy on local communities. [15657/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have raised the matter referred to by the Deputy with the Garda Authorities and requested a report on the issue. I will reply to the Deputy when the report is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
An Garda Síochána conduct intelligence led operations to target particular suspects or criminal activities such as drug dealing. You will be aware that the Gardaí have had a number of significant successes in targeting drugs crime with seizures of large amounts of drugs. These seizures are the result of painstaking and professional police work which is aimed at dismantling the criminal networks that are behind the visible manifestations of drug misuse which are evident in our communities.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the use of informants by An Garda Síochána is governed by the Code of Practice for Garda Personnel Involved in the Management and use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources. Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) is the recognised term by law enforcement personnel for “informants” or “informers”.
The CHIS Code of Practice dictates organisational policy on the use of such resources. In accordance with the Code of Practice, participants are clearly instructed not to commit crime and are made aware that if any offences are committed they are liable to criminal proceedings.
