Mr. Justin Kelly:

Good morning. I thank an Cathaoirleach for the kind remarks. It is very much appreciated. On behalf of the Garda Commissioner, I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak with members today.

I have organisational responsibility for tackling organised and serious crime. Naturally, a significant amount of our focus in the area of organised crime is on the disruption and dismantling of the drugs importation routes into the country. Our aim is to make Ireland a difficult environment for global drug trafficking networks to operate. We place particular importance on identifying not only those directing these, but also on those who facilitate and enhance them. One of our key strategies is to deny and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains, in whatever form these assets may be. I have been in An Garda Síochána for over 32 years and have worked in the drugs area at various levels from street supply in the 1990s to today where much of my focus is on partnerships with international law enforcement agencies. Detective Chief Superintendent Boland, who leads the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, GNDOCB, joins me here today.

The function of An Garda Síochána, as set out in section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, is to provide policing and security services to the State. The committee will be aware that An Garda Síochána is a community-based police service and that our mission is to keep people safe and protect the most vulnerable in society. An Garda Síochána enforces the laws enacted by the Oireachtas. We are committed to upholding the law, which, of course, is the basis of democracy. An Garda Síochána must, however, prudently apply the law in a manner that is ethical and fair to all. An Garda Síochána is supportive of the Government’s policy on drugs use as set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025. We support the health-led approach to drugs use set out in the strategy. We work closely with our health and criminal justice partners to reduce harm and ensure community safety.

By the very nature of policing, members of An Garda Síochána frequently encounter individuals addicted to drugs who often lead tragic and chaotic lives. In such encounters we endeavour always to take a human rights-based and humane approach. The law enforcement focus of An Garda Síochána is not the prosecution of those addicted to controlled drugs, but on disrupting drug trafficking supply lines and dismantling the transnational organised criminal groups behind these. We are resolute in our work to identify drugs networks and prosecute those who do so much harm to our communities by supplying controlled drugs, particularly those we deem to be high value targets.

At the forefront of this work is GNDOCB, which undertakes intelligence-led operations that lead to the seizures of substantial amounts of drugs, firearms and cash. An Garda Síochána is involved in many policing operations with our colleagues abroad, as well as with our partners here in the Naval Service, Customs and Excise and Revenue. We also have a network of local drug units in every part of the country that focus on local, street-level drug suppliers who do so much harm to our communities. We co-ordinate all our activities nationally under what is known as Operation Tara.

Controlled drugs cause untold damage not just to the health of individuals but also to the environment. The demand for drugs in Europe and North America has caused severe environmental destruction in parts of South America. There is a direct nexus between those who use drugs here in Ireland and this damage, as well as to the violence inflicted by the criminal gangs involved in this illicit trade. We also know that the profit from drugs supply is used to fund other serious criminal activity such as narco-corruption, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Drug trafficking is a priority at European and international level. We know that 40% of criminal networks in the EU are involved in drug trafficking and 60% of criminal networks use violence.

Drugs-related intimidation, DRI, is one of the methods criminal groups use to enforce debts. The effects of this can be devastating on individuals and their families. An Garda Síochána is often at the forefront in supporting families in such situations. We have developed a strategy to counter DRI, which involves collaboration with external partners. Should members wish, Detective Chief Superintendent Boland can provide more details to the committee of our work in this area. An Garda Síochána are also willing and supportive partners in a number of initiatives designed to prevent drugs harm, for example: the early warning emerging trends committee, EWET; the festival back-of-house monitoring programme; the proposed supervised injecting facilities, SIFs; the issuing of naloxone to members of An Garda Síochána; and the proposed health diversion scheme. An Garda Síochána are supportive of the diversion of persons from the criminal justice system where appropriate. Our organisation has significant experience in this area. for example the Garda youth diversion scheme for children under 18 years and the adult caution scheme available for a range of offences, such as certain assaults, theft, public order offences, and in the context of today’s discussion, the possession of cannabis.

Last year, An Garda Síochána was privileged to have been given the opportunity to address the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. We provided inputs on three separate occasions on requested areas. We also participated in a number of question-and-answer sessions to address the queries of the members of the assembly. An Garda Síochána welcomes the recommendations of the citizens' assembly and we look forward to playing our part in the implementation of these. The recommendations complement the current governmental health-led approach which, as I have said, we are supportive of. We welcome any questions members may have and of course will provide the committee with any further information that may be of assistance to it.