Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I share Deputy O'Donnell's concern, and that of all right-thinking citizens, about the importance of combating gangland crime in Limerick and in other parts. The Garda Commissioner shares that concern and my determination that this type of criminality be confronted with all the resources at our disposal.

I strongly condemn the recent killing in Limerick. The Garda has made significant progress in its investigation. Arrests have been made and the House will appreciate it would not be appropriate for me to go into any further detail in this respect.

Considerable resources will continue to be put into containing and pursuing criminal gangs in Limerick. An additional 103 gardaí have been deployed to Limerick since December 2006, bringing the total strength there to 635 at the end of 2009, the highest number ever deployed in the Limerick division. By comparison, at the end of 1997 there were 423 gardaí, only two thirds of the most recent figure. Limerick is the most policed area in the country.

The Garda Commissioner and I are aware of the importance of community policing. An Garda Síochána is committed to the community policing ethos, particularly in Limerick where there are 88 officers dedicated to it. The number of such gardaí in the Limerick division has increased by 138% over the past three years. We must accept, however, community policing is not a panacea for addressing the most serious types of crime but it does make a real contribution.

An Garda Síochána is delivering a robust and determined response to crime in Limerick, underlined by the reduction in the number of cases of murder and manslaughter in Limerick in 2009 to three compared to seven in 2008. There have been convictions and persons charged in respect of eight of these ten cases. The rate of detection and conviction is better in Limerick than in any other area.

The number of incidents where firearms have been discharged in Limerick has also decreased considerably from 103 in 2007 to 28 in 2009, a decrease of 73%. The number of persons found in possession of firearms has also decreased from 42 in 2007 to 33 in 2009, a decrease of 21%. An Garda Síochána has recovered 168 firearms in the past three years.

It was partly against the background of the difficulties in obtaining evidence in cases of organised crime that last year I introduced the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. It is wrong to claim the legislation is not being utilised. I shudder to think of the situation we would be in if the legislation had been delayed or diluted as some Members advocated. I hasten to add Deputy O'Donnell did not but his party did ask for the legislation to be delayed.

The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act is more about the person behind the person pulling the trigger. The resources to utilise the legislation are available and, since it was enacted, the Garda has utilised it to build up cases against those involved in gangland crime. Due to the legislation's provisions some files are already with the Director of Public Prosecutions and more are being prepared for submission to him. I share the frustration at the time which inevitably must elapse before legislation enacted by the Oireachtas results in successful prosecutions under it. However, I am confident that over time this legislation will be seen to have been a vital turning point in the fight against gangland activities.

Despite the pressure on the public finances, the Government has prioritised allocations for front-line policing and recently approved 170 Garda promotions as a derogation from the moratorium on promotions. I am continuing to put forward significant proposals for legislation, including the Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 and the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010 which will see the establishment of a national DNA database.

Gangland activity is inextricably linked to the drugs trade. While deadly violence between gangs is highlighted, we cannot forget the misery which these gangs wreak silently in our community. The Garda, of course, liaises fully with Customs and Excise which has primary responsibility in the prevention of the importation of illicit drugs.

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