Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The customs service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for prevention of drug smuggling into the country and responsibility for prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work.

The joint task force on drug interdiction, established in 1993 as a Government measure to improve law enforcement in respect of drugs, consists of members of An Garda Síochána, the customs service and the Naval Service. Drug interdiction is carried out by naval ships on receipt of intelligence from the joint task force. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships, which are tasked with coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union.

The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish exclusive economic zone at any one time. All vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on fisheries patrol. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels are deployed to other duties including drug interdiction operations.

The Naval Service, as a member of the joint task force, is also committed to an international initiative, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics, MAOC-N. The centre, which was established in 2007, has led to a greater focus on intelligence exchange among countries to tackle large drug shipments by sea. It was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international co-ordination force with access to national tasking agencies and requires participation and resources from all active members. An Garda Síochána and the customs service have full-time officers based at the centre in Lisbon. Naval Service personnel travel to the centre when requested by the joint task force.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The acquisition of the two new offshore patrol vessels for the Naval Service will ensure that the service can continue to carry out its drug interdiction and other roles in increasingly difficult and dangerous sea conditions in the Atlantic. Preparations for their construction have commenced at Appledore in the UK and the first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second vessel will follow one year later.

Air Corps personnel and resources are also involved in efforts to prevent drug trafficking. The Air Corps maritime squadron carries out aerial surveillance of our exclusive economic zone using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft underwent mid-life upgrades, which were completed in 2008 at a cost of €16.5 million. The upgrades included the fitting of state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment. At times, the Air Corps has also carried members of the customs national drugs team in an observational capacity for the purposes of monitoring vessels suspected of smuggling drugs.

Defence Forces personnel and resources are not dedicated solely to drug interdiction operations. However, prevention of drug smuggling is recognised as an important part of their many duties.

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