Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They will be deterred by intelligence and proper co-ordination among various countries and agencies. This is what happened recently when a major intervention took place. The Defence Forces successfully landed on a ship and intervened to carry out the largest drugs seizure in the history of the State. Maritime surveillance is not solely carried out by Naval Service ships. We also have aircraft, namely, CN-235s and, now, C-295s. We are far greater aerial surveillance capability of our seas than we have ever had with these new C-295s that have been procured.

The issue of drug smuggling is an interagency matter. The operation I referred to earlier, which I commend everyone on, involved the Defence Forces, the Army Rangers, the navy and the Air Corps. It also involved working with An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and other countries. This is how we catch the drug smugglers. The Revenue Commissioners are also involved in patrolling coastlines along with the navy and the Garda Síochána. That is the key way to deal with drug interdiction.

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