Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This Government is not only strengthening the criminal law to enable it to respond to current circumstances, but it will continue to provide the Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to prevent crime and pursue criminals. I will not detail the resources which are being provided to the Garda, as these are set out comprehensively in the Government's amendment to the motion. My intention was to list everything in order to show exactly what has been done.

The amendment reflects the fact that in deciding on the Estimates for my Department this year I directed that absolute priority be given to the fight against crime. This matter arose during Question Time the other day. Three months ago, I said that I wanted to concentrate on crime, given the fact that I would have fewer resources next year. I had to earmark the issue of tackling crime and dealing with our prisons and that is exactly as it has emerged. The Fine Gael 5% cut would mean that we would have to cut the programme for the Criminal Assets Bureau. We increased the resources for the CAB by 20% and also increased and ring-fenced the money for Operation Anvil, which is directed at organised crime.

The attested strength of An Garda Síochána will increase to almost 14,900 by the end of 2009 from its current attested strength of 14,267. This increase in the number of gardaí, together with the flexibility that overtime gives to the force, will ensure delivery of a real sustainable increase in visible policing in all our communities. Along with the increase in civilian numbers in An Garda Síochána of 20% since the start of this year, and the increase of 60% in the past 21 months, such numbers will more than offset the planned reduction in overtime. A ring-fenced allocation of €21 million, an increase of €1 million, will enable Operation Anvil to continue in 2009 with the targeted disruption of serious and organised criminal activity.

We cannot overlook the fact that the demand for drugs is the lifeblood of many criminal gangs in this country. Any person, from whatever class or background, who uses illicit drugs is not well placed to deplore the activities of gangs. Such persons are complicit in those activities. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy John Curran, is currently drawing up the national drugs strategy for the next eight years. I have no doubt that we will debate that strategy fully in this House when it is presented. I reject completely suggestions that have been made from time to time, even recently, that the answer is to legalise drugs. That completely overlooks the harm that comes from drug abuse and would hand victory to the purveyors of death and destruction.

The Criminal Assets Bureau has been highly successful over the past 12 years in tackling the criminals in a very effective and tangible way. It demonstrates the effectiveness of the co-ordinated multi-agency approach in dealing with the proceeds of crime. I acknowledge that the bureau had its origins in proposals put forward at the time by the current Ceann Comhairle. It represents a new form of policing designed to disrupt and disable the capacity of targeted individuals to participate in further criminal activity. Work at the bureau continues to evolve in response to the changing environment. There was a significant increase in the number of trained asset profilers in 2008, ensuring that CAB has a presence in every part of the country. An incorrect reference was made stating that there were only two full-time CAB personnel in Limerick. That is not the case. There are more personnel in Limerick from the CAB than there are anywhere else. There are two profilers in the city, the same number provided for most other counties.

The bureau is now looking at middle-ranking criminals as well as their bosses. These persons are often well known as drug dealers in their local areas and are a constant provocation for parents and community workers who are doing their best to protect their youth and keep their local community safe.

In any criminal system there is an inevitable time lapse between the issuing of a warrant and its execution but I am assured that the Garda will continue to prioritise the enforcement of warrants, of whatever kind, against those involved in serious crime. A serious effort was made during August of this year to deal with the backlog of warrants. The vast majority of warrants relate to monetary penalties. I am taking all the steps open to me to reduce the burden on gardaí, in particular through outsourcing the collection of fines. This is a priority in my Department. We heard time and time again in this House that there were too many gardaí sitting behind desks. Today 2,600 civilians are working with the 14,200 gardaí who can thereby be released from desk duties.

I will address the issue of the collection of fines in a fines Bill which I will bring forward——

See this speech in context