Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I make this reply on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I thank Deputies Coveney and Sheehan for raising this important matter in the House.

All Members share a sense of relief that the attempt to import a massive amount of cocaine into west Cork on Sunday night and Monday morning failed. I commend the efforts of the Garda Síochána, the customs service, the Naval Service and the coast guard on the operation which has been taking place there over the past couple of days. I acknowledge the great amount of support and assistance they received in their efforts from members of the local community.

The House will appreciate that this matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation from which criminal charges would be expected to ensue so there are some constraints on what I can say. I understand that the Minister met with the Garda Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner for operations earlier this evening about a range of matters and has been fully briefed on the incident. I also understand that he has been assured by the Commissioner of the Garda's determination to bring its investigation into this matter to a successful conclusion and that no resources will be spared.

The basic facts are by now fairly well known. At 8 a.m. yesterday, Bantry Garda station was alerted to a situation at Dunlough Bay, Mizen Head, where a type of vessel known as a RIB had reportedly ran aground on rocks in heavy seas. One of the occupants of the RIB swam ashore and called to a local residence where the emergency services were alerted. This person was taken by ambulance to Bantry General Hospital. A second person was rescued from the sea and also taken to the hospital. The submerged RIB was 100 yd. off the shoreline in rough seas, together with a large number of floating parcels. Sixty bales, each containing 25 kg. of what is believed to be cocaine, were recovered and removed to Bantry Garda station where an incident room has been established. Three vehicles which are believed to have been linked to the attempted importation have been seized and are being technically examined at Bantry Garda station. The two people removed to the hospital are obviously central to the Garda investigation, but others suspected to have been involved in the attempted importation are also being sought as part of an intensive Garda operation. A full search of the coastline was resumed at first light this morning.

This incident is a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by all of the agencies involved in trying to prevent drugs being imported into the country, either for use in Ireland, or as is likely to be the case here, for onward transmission to other countries. Nobody should underestimate the difficulties posed by the nature and extent — some 3,000 miles — of our coastline. Under the national drugs strategy, the customs service has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs at importation. However, the strategy recognises the vital importance of co-operation between the customs service and the Garda Síochána — for which Deputy Brian Lenihan is the accountable Minister — as well as the Naval Service.

While a certain amount may be achieved by random patrols of our waters, the priority must be intelligence-based targeted activities by all the agencies involved. In terms of intelligence gathering and sharing of information, the agencies here co-operate fully not only among themselves but with their counterparts in organisations such as Europol, the World Customs Organisation, the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in the UK. On the role of the Garda Síochána, for example, Garda liaison officers are based at London, Paris, The Hague, Madrid and Europol. The work of the customs service in monitoring our rugged and indented coastline is based on risk analysis and intelligence-led enforcement. Mobile anti-smuggling teams operate from key strategic locations. These officers are engaged in intelligence gathering and in operational interventions. This type of enforcement strategy is in keeping with best international practice. The customs service drugs watch programme is also in place to encourage the coastal and maritime communities to assist in confidentially reporting suspicious activity and a dedicated freephone is in operation on a 24-7 basis.

In order to enhance the State's capability to protect the community from drug trafficking by sea, the Revenue Commissioners deployed the customs cutter, Suirbhéir, in 2004. This vessel is currently engaged in the search operation. The Revenue Commissioners constantly monitor the adequacy of the controls that are in place in response to emerging trends and risks as identified both nationally and internationally. Co-operation with other customs services and law enforcement agencies abroad is also an important aspect of this work and such co-operation and intelligence exchange is well established and effective.

In light of recent events I am glad, on behalf of the Minister, to be able to inform the House of a very significant initiative which is under way, namely, the establishment in Lisbon of a new maritime analysis and operational centre. The centre is intended to focus on targeting the sea cocaine routes from Central and South America into the European Union. It will collect and analyse operational information, enhance intelligence through better information exchange, and ascertain the availability of assets to facilitate interdictions in accordance with the national laws of the participants involved. The UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, France and the Netherlands will participate in the work of the centre. I have made clear my full support for this initiative in which the Garda Síochána, the customs service and the Naval Service will be involved. Officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are to travel to Lisbon next week when I expect that the text of an agreement on Ireland's participation will be finalised.

I mentioned earlier the support which has been forthcoming from the local community in west Cork. It is important to stress that, as well as international intelligence, there is obviously a key role for people in coastal areas to report any unusual activities. If people notice unusual objects at sea, underwater or ashore, ships being met by small craft, or vessels operating at night without lights, then they should pass this information on to the appropriate authorities. Both the customs service and the Garda operate coastal alert schemes to encourage this practice.

The subject of this Adjournment matter specifically relates to the interdiction of drugs at sea but we should not overlook the fact that when drugs find their way into the country considerable efforts are made by the Garda to track them down and seize them. For example, between 2004 and 2006 over €40 million worth of cocaine was seized.

See this speech in context