Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to examine the progress in tackling organised crime in this State. I am acutely conscious of the devastating impact that illegal drugs, the drug trade, drug dealing and related criminal activity have on communities across the country, particularly in the capital, Dublin.

It should be noted that, by international comparison, Ireland has a relatively small organised crime landscape. Nevertheless, it has a detrimental impact on communities. Thankfully, gun crime and fatal shootings are showing significant downward trends since the early 2000s but every incident is a tragedy. The decrease is in part due to legislative changes to the Offences Against the State Act and the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act, which have had an impact on organised crime. The new legislation on the grooming of children will also have an impact once implemented.

An Garda Síochána has been at the forefront of tackling organised crime through a range of targeted measures designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of criminal organisations. In this, it has been supported by the CAB and the new drug-related intimidation reporting programme. Fianna Fáil, in government, is fully committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep communities safe, as evidenced by the unprecedented funding of over €2.1 billion provided in budget 2023.

There have been three peaks in organised crime activity in Ireland in recent years. The year 1996 saw the infamous shooting dead of journalist Veronica Guerin by John Gilligan and his organised crime gang. This outrage led to the establishment of the CAB, which alongside the Special Criminal Court has been a powerful tool in dealing with organised crime. Ireland experienced further peaks in organised crime activity in 2005-06, due to a boom in the drugs trade during the Celtic tiger era, and more recently in 2016. As we saw during the recent case at the Special Criminal Court, organised crime groups in the State regularly work with dissident groups still active on the island. These dissident groups have access to military-grade weaponry – a legacy of the Troubles – and this poses a clear danger to the public. We have also seen significant efforts to intimidate witnesses over recent decades.

Given that these legacy conditions continue to exist on the island, it is imperative that the legislation underpinning the Special Criminal Court remain in place. It is worrying that some Opposition parties still fail to support that court. Others seek to remove the legislation completely and the tools necessary to ensure public safety and tackle organised crime.

As we have seen recently in the North, the PSNI remains very much at risk from organised crime groups and dissidents. I thank the Garda and everyone involved for their efforts in tackling organised crime. Parallel to the policing response, a social response is needed to support communities affected by organised crime.

The recent response in Limerick, the north inner city of Dublin and elsewhere is very welcome. However, I agree with Deputies who have said this afternoon that supports need to be expanded. It should be noted the Government has introduced unprecedented support for communities. Examples include the expansion of the hot school meals programme to all DEIS schools and the increases in capitation grants for primary and secondary schools and at third level to support young people, particularly those from marginalised communities.

I pay tribute to and thank the Minister, Deputy Harris, for his engagement over recent months while responsible for justice along with his other portfolio. I also pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, for his efforts. Since he took office, he has made real, tangible efforts to engage with marginalised communities across the length and breadth of this country. That engagement and the listening exercise to determine where gaps exist are to be commended. The Department has responded very well to the needs of some of the groups, particularly their funding needs. Some Deputies in this Chamber have referred to the superb work being done by communities, but it is essential that the funding they require be given. I pay tribute to the Ministers on their engagement with the various groups.

It is imperative that the House send out a signal. This debate is both topical and really important, and the Government needs to hear the concerns of communities gripped and ravaged by criminal activity. It is a scourge affecting hardworking people. We have seen it in certain areas. I do not like to name areas because it stigmatises them but the reality is that organised crime has a huge impact on communities. We need to work with the Garda to ensure it has the necessary tools and resources to tackle organised crime.

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