Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of criminal gang members charged with offences in each of the past three years to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13361/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of criminal gangs on trial at any time during the past three years and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13362/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of crimes committed by known members of criminal gangs while on trial in each of the past five years to date in 2010 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13363/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130 and 132 together.

I am advised by the Garda Authorities that it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy. Due to the fluid nature of the membership of criminal gangs it is not always possible to ascribe specific crimes to the activities of members of those gangs.

An Garda Síochána continue to utilise all available legislative provisions available to them in their pursuit of those involved in criminal gangs. The additional legislative provisions introduced by the Oireachtas in 2007 and 2009 which amend the Criminal Justice Act 2006 will greatly assist Gardaí in relation to the problem of organised crime and will help them to further develop and implement strategies to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks through the use of advanced analytical and intelligence methods. The use of targeted intelligence led operations will facilitate the early intervention of Gardaí and help prevent such crimes.

Where there is justification and a legal basis, those suspected of involvement in criminal activity are arrested, detained and questioned in relation to specific crime. A member of An Garda Síochána must, at all times, have reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has been involved in criminal activity before they can arrest and question any person in relation to criminality.

There are currently a number of initiatives underway targeting the activities of Organised Crime Groups, the focus of which is to gather evidence on which it is envisaged that charges under the recently enacted legislation may be directed by the Law Officers. A number of these initiatives are at an advanced stage and investigation files have been submitted to the Law Officers for direction. In other cases, files are being prepared for submission to the Law Officers.