Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I am delighted Fine Gael has tabled this motion on gangland crime as it provides an opportunity to explore the issue and consider suggestions and proposals. The current status of gangland crime is directly attributable to the Government, going back a good number of years. It is not just the fault of this Administration but previous Administrations also.

I was the party spokesman for justice in the previous Dáil and on numerous occasions I warned the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, former Deputy Michael McDowell, that tolerance of tit-for-tat gangland killings was a recipe for disaster down the road. I warned him it would only be a matter of time before innocent bystanders or victims would be caught in the crossfire.

In 2003, before we had any innocent victims caught in the crossfire, former Deputy McDowell made his famous flippant statement that the latest tit-for-tat gangland killing was the sting of a dying wasp and he was in control, that there was no need to bother. This was totally arrogant and ignorant but the most serious issue was that he, as Minister, had stewardship but left the door open to continuation of the activities which led the events we are debating. Shane Geoghegan is the most recent victim but only a while ago there was Keith Fitzsimons, Baiba Saulite, Donna Cleary and in my constituency, Anthony Campbell, a 20-year-old carpenter caught in the crossfire by a drug dealer in Finglas. This was from the response of the previous Minister, and I lay it firmly at his door that the issue was allowed to develop. Nothing has changed since.

The second pillar of gangland activity is the escalating problem of drug abuse, which is nationwide. There was a time when serious drugs were only available in Dublin but they are now available everywhere throughout the country in towns and villages. This is the cause of and fuel for virtually all serious gangland crime.

Three weeks ago we saw how the Garda and other services seized the largest consignment of cocaine in the history of the country, worth between €500 million and €1 billion. In September, which is not so long ago either, we heard of the largest seizure in the history of the State by gardaí of legal weapons. It consisted of 41 brand new, top of the range, high quality weapons.

These seizures are a sign of the times and that Irish criminality has moved to a different plane. Illegal drugs are now very big business in this country and criminal enforcement — not Garda enforcement — and intimidation is becoming a very deadly business. New strategies are needed.

One strategy which has been introduced fairly recently is the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats initiative. This was originally devised by the national drugs strategy team two years ago and piloted successfully in Blanchardstown. We also piloted it successfully last Christmas in the north inner city. The national launch was in September. The initiative is quite simple. It provides a freefone number — 1800 220 220 — which is very easy to remember. Importantly, the public can use it securely, confidentially and anonymously to report information on drug dealing, threats and intimidation. These are now widespread throughout the community. The national launch has already produced good results, in that 465 calls have been received on the freefone number. A total of 141 informative reports have been sent to the Garda, following which a number of substantial seizures have taken place.

We launched the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats initiative on the north side of Dublin last week. I hope it will be a success. Every sector of society must be informed and mobilised in the fight against drugs and the initiative is an important step in that regard. The fight against drugs is the one area that should be protected from cutbacks in the Department's budget. Many community-based programmes, projects and agencies work in front line activity. I heard the Minister say last night on a programme that there would be a 5% reduction in his budget. Let us hope the reduction is not in the front line area.

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