Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Government attaches the highest priority to combating organised crime and bringing those involved in such activities and who show such callous disregard for human life to justice. One of the main priorities set for the Garda Síochána under the Garda Síochána Act is to target gun crime, organised crime and drug trafficking through a range of measures, including the use of Garda specialist units and targeted operations such as Operation Anvil.

The Garda Síochána meets this task by strategic actions including, in particular, continuous and intensive intelligence-led operations against groups and individuals engaged in such illegal activity. Available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units in targeting persons and groups. It is used in carrying out searches and arrests aimed at both preventing attacks and apprehending persons suspected of being involved in such attacks. Profiles regarding the personnel of organised criminal gangs are continually updated.

Both uniformed and plain clothes Garda patrols and checkpoints have been increased in areas where it is considered likely such attacks might take place. In recent months, action has been focused on particular individuals. Search operations have taken place with the aim of identifying the sources of devices, such as pipe bombs, being used. A quantity of such devices have been seized and a number of persons have been arrested and charged. These persons are currently before the courts. Firearms and drugs have also been recovered resulting in the arrest and charging of persons suspected of being significantly involved in such criminality.

The Garda Commissioner has established on a permanent basis the organised crime unit with the specific objective of targeting those suspected of involvement in organised crime, including drug trafficking, importation, sale and supply. Similar operations are undertaken by Garda specialist units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin metropolitan region in May 2005 to deal with this type of serious crime and was extended nationwide in 2006. The primary aim of the operation is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt and visible policing and patrolling and static checkpoints by uniform, mobile and foot patrols supported by armed plain clothes patrols.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Garda Commissioner is committed to the objectives of Operation Anvil. An allocation of €20 million has been ring fenced in the Garda budget for 2008 to ensure its continuing effectiveness, augmented by other initiatives, both local and national. There is no point in underestimating the difficulties faced by gardaí in counteracting this threat but they have the full support of the Government and, I am sure, all Members of this House in continuing to take relentless action against all those involved.

See this speech in context