Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remain in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious crime and I can assure the House that the Garda authorities will continue to bear down heavily on the activities of those involved in gangland crime, including criminal terrorists.

I am aware of the US report to which the Deputy refers, and it confirms our long-standing knowledge of the involvement of terrorist groups in organised crime. It is clear that the paramilitary groups that wish to undermine the peaceful intent of the majority of people on this island have inextricable links to organised crime. Many of their activities, including drug smuggling, tobacco and fuel fraud and extortion, are plain, unvarnished criminality. Whatever veneer of patriotism these gangs of criminal terrorists may wish to employ, the fact is that organised crime is organised crime and they are up to their necks in it.

The only effective way to combat organised crime is by disrupting and prosecuting those involved in its operations, especially the drugs trade, which is at the heart of much of its profits. As the Deputy will know, extensive Garda operations have been launched against gangs and there have been significant drug seizures in recent months and weeks. These have included a major programme of more than 200 searches which were carried out nationwide under Operation Wireless, resulting in the seizure of a substantial amount of drugs and more than 100 arrests. Overall, the Garda Síochána seized drugs of an estimated value of €65.5 million in 2011, with drug seizures estimated at €90.4 million for the first nine months of this year.

Equally, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána has launched a series of sustained operations against the activities of criminal terrorists in so-called dissident republican organisations. As a number of people are facing charges in this regard, the House will appreciate why I cannot be more specific.

I am also advised by the Revenue Commissioners, which has the lead role in combating tobacco fraud, that in the period from January to October this year a total of 91 million cigarettes and almost 4,000 kg of tobacco were seized. In addition, during that period there were more than 100 convictions for smuggling or selling of illicit tobacco products.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Although we should not underestimate the difficulties the Garda authorities face in trying to prevent these criminal enterprises and in bringing their perpetrators to justice, I can assure the House that the Garda is determined, in co-operation with the PSNI and other relevant agencies, including the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Customs Service, to tackle robustly the activities of these criminal terrorists and the organised crime gangs with which they are inextricably linked.

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