Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I listened with interest to the Deputy's contribution. He obviously substantially misunderstands the concept of a witness protection programme. Witness protection programmes worldwide are devised to facilitate individuals who are at risk from organised crime to start their lives anew, in a different location in the same country or in another country, for their own protection. Witness protection programmes are not simply about providing Garda protection for families or individuals placed at risk in their own communities. It is utterly and completely wrong for the Deputy to suggest in any shape or form that the witness protection programme has failed or that it has in any way been impacted by any cutbacks of any description.

Since my appointment as Minister, I have been determined that the State should do everything it could to assist Mr. Steve Collins and his family. Primarily, Mr. Collins and his family stood by the institutions of this State. They paid a dreadful price for the courage which they showed, courage for which all of us in this House salute them. It is vital that the State is seen to stand by them. However, despite the great progress which the Garda has made in tackling the gangs in Limerick, it remained necessary for Mr. Collins and members of his family to have intensive Garda protection.

For some considerable time, there had been contact with Mr. Collins as to how the State could best assist him and his family. This culminated in Mr. Collins deciding that the best hope for himself and his family to lead a better life is to move abroad. It has never been the practice to comment on who may or may not be in the witness security programme and the House will appreciate that, for security reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on any of the arrangements made for Mr. Collins and his family's move abroad. However, I assure the House that the State has offered, and is providing, every assistance possible in giving effect to that decision. Of course, I regret that Mr. Collins has had to take this decision but I fully understand it and I am sure all right thinking people will wish him and his family well in their move and in their new life.

The Garda is determined to maintain a robust response to criminal gangs. I am determined to do everything I can as Minister to support the Garda in its efforts. We should remember that, week in week out, the Garda successfully brings people involved in gangland activities before the courts and secures convictions, and a substantial number of people are serving prison sentences. Garda detection rates for murder and manslaughter cases are high, with provisional figures indicating a detection rate of more than 80% for murders last year.

The Garda Commissioner has assured me that policing in Limerick and actions to deal with gangland crime will continue to be an absolute priority for the force. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that more than 20 gang leaders and a total of 106 individuals related to Limerick criminal gangs are in prison at this time. In addition a significant number of gang leaders are awaiting trial at present. Considerable resources will continue to be put into containing and pursuing criminal gangs in Limerick. An additional 105 gardaí have been deployed to Limerick since December 2006, bringing the total strength there to 637 at the end of 2011 - the highest number of gardaí ever deployed in the Limerick division.

The Criminal Assets Bureau is also pursuing the assets of these gangs. The bureau is central to tackling gangland crime and has had considerable success in recovering proceeds of crime. A review of the proceeds of crime legislation underpinning its operation is continuing, with a view to finalising proposals which will give effect to the commitment in the programme for Government to strengthen further the bureau's powers to seize the proceeds of crime.

The Deputy will be aware that the witness security programme is a vital part of the Garda response to tackling gangland crime. He will appreciate, however, that for security reasons it would not be appropriate for me to comment in any detail on its operation or to respond to some of the queries he raised. The House will appreciate that programmes of this nature are operated by many countries which have to confront the realities of organised crime. While I cannot, as I say, go into any detail about its operation, I assure the House that we are determined to do what is necessary to operate an effective security programme. This programme involves not only providing, where required, intensive security to individuals at risk in their communities but also, where necessary, facilitating individuals and their families to relocate to other jurisdictions.

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