Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Like most Deputies, I support this Bill. I cannot imagine a situation where people would not want co-operation in our common interest. The explanatory memoranda to the Bill, however, point out that it gives effect to protocols, some of which are six years old, and is largely a technical Bill. We also do not appear to be in any hurry to pass it. Given that we are likely to receive more support than we can offer, we should have displayed more enthusiasm for this Bill and its passage — it would not meet any resistance.

Recently, the media have reported on the exposure we might face. Our geography means we are isolated and exposed with limited systems compared to other countries to protect ourselves so we have much to gain from this development. Closer co-operation on security issues must, therefore, be welcomed but there must also be safeguards for our citizens. We must strike the right balance and the Data Protection Act has a role to play in this regard.

The Bill covers several different areas, including money laundering, regardless of the type of offence. We have seen the Criminal Assets Bureau operate across a broad spectrum. It started out with the drugs issue but has gone beyond that and its members have displayed great bravery in making it such a success. It demonstrated that good policing is not just about swapping information. It is about prevention and headline crimes not taking place, with systems in place for more than simple co-operation. While the primary focus at the start of CAB's existence was the drug barons, it had wider significance.

That success notwithstanding, it is a matter of concern that drugs are being imported in such large quantities. I try not to be extreme in what I say but I am alarmed at the amount of cocaine available in my constituency. That will be a cause of money laundering in future because it has not been seriously tackled. Although drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis were available, cocaine use is now much more widespread than ever before.

I am concerned about the recent drugs hauls, which were the largest in the history of the State. The attempt to smuggle €10 million worth of drugs into Ireland from Belgium at Weston Aerodrome is particularly worrying. That was foiled through co-operation but the airfield was seen as a soft target. I asked questions earlier this year because we realised it was a soft target. There were 18 customs checks in 12 months, ten of which were previously announced, at that airfield, which has a high level of traffic. This was evident to me and those living near the airfield, who can go to the very edge of the airfield and watch passengers disembarking and getting into taxis. It is marketed on the aerodrome's website that from touchdown to taxi or limousine takes fives minutes, which advertises the lack of security. We are sleepwalking on this issue.

Streamlining liaison and data analysis will require resources but it is still not possible to e-mail a Garda station — faxes must be sent instead. If we are talking about relationships between the Garda Síochána and European police forces, we must invest in the technology most people use today.

I can see no reason that Operation Airways has not been re-established. Small aircraft are now much more widely available than was the case ten years ago and we must move with the times. The lack of protection at small airfields needs serious attention. We must prevent the importation of drugs which, in turn, will have an effect on crime rates.

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