Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he is taking to address the widespread availability of illegal drugs here. [27209/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I commend An Garda Síochána for the seizure last night, as part of a planned operation, of what is estimated to be €4 million worth of heroin.

My Department's remit in this area, as part of the Government's overall national drugs strategy, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within the State; conducting intelligence-driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade, including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing; working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade; and working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

In implementing these strategies, the Garda national drugs unit will continue to co-ordinate large scale operations against drug dealing and trafficking with the unit personnel investigating cases themselves and assisting local investigation teams as appropriate. Additional assistance will continue to be made available from other specialised Garda support units, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that in addition to the considerable volumes of drugs continuing to be seized, significant impact has been made over the past 18 months by arresting and prosecuting a number of major players involved in drug trafficking through the importation, sale and distribution of drugs. A significant number of crime gangs involved in this type of criminal activity have been disrupted and dismantled.

Drug seizures this year to date include more than €20 million worth of heroin and €7.2 million worth of cocaine. I warmly commend An Garda Síochána in this regard. Of its nature this work has to be ongoing and relentless.

Paradoxically, while increases in the number of drug seizures lead to an increased crime rate as demonstrated, for example, in the most recent CSO crime statistics which show an increase year on year of 31% in detections of controlled drug offences, such seizures are in fact to be welcomed as evidence of increased enforcement.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I join with the Minister in acknowledging the success of the Garda Síochána in seizing €4 million worth of heroin last night. However, if such a seizure took place five years ago it would have meant a shortage of heroin on the streets. This did not happen because it was the tip of the iceberg such is the problem and the difficulties involved.

As far as cocaine is concerned, this week the Minister will have seen a report which states three times the amount of cocaine is on the streets now compared to five years ago. The Minister mentioned supply reduction in his reply. The Government is failing abysmally. While the amount of drugs on our streets has increased to record proportions, our ports are manned by one x-ray scanner and surveillance equipment for our seas amounts to one boat.

What is the story with the second mobile x-ray scanner? Does the Minister accept what the Garda Síochána appears to accept, which is that criminal gangsters are aware that the mobile scanner is in Cork and will use a ferry port in Wexford or Dublin to bring their illicit consignment into the State? I was informed by the Minister's predecessor that a second scanner was on the way. Where is it?

What steps has the Department taken in conjunction with customs officials to ensure a second coast guard boat can be acquired? It is unacceptable and impossible for 4,000 km of Irish coastline to be guarded by a solitary boat. What steps has the Minister taken to deal with this issue since he took office?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Given the fact that we have a large coastline, most detection which takes place is intelligence based and comes through working with other law enforcement agencies. We have been successful in this respect and last night's seizure shows this is the case.

In the context of working with our international partners, recently Ireland agreed to participate in the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre, MAOC. Its aim is to prevent narcotics coming from across the Atlantic and is geared towards the importation of cocaine into Europe. This is a new initiative and Ireland will be represented at its base in Lisbon.

The number of seizures has increased and this is an indication that the policy is working. With regard to the equipment referred to by Deputy Flanagan, such as x-ray machines, the responsibility lies with the customs service which is in the process of tendering for a new cutter which will be available in 2009. Customs service personnel are present all the time at every medium and large port. A major attack by the Garda Síochána and the customs service has been made on the new aerodromes which have sprung up throughout the country. They were targeted in 2007 and this will continue. The vast majority of assistance in this respect comes through good intelligence and this has been shown in the dramatic increase in the number of seizures.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I regret we do not have sufficient time to probe the matter of aerodromes in a meaningful manner. Does the Minister accept a report published in February this year which states that seven aerodromes frequented by aeroplanes of international origin have not been inspected or had a visitation by anyone in the customs service? The situation in our private airports, airstrips and aerodromes is farcical. The Minister stated this was prioritised but this is simply not the case. Will the Minister concede that airstrips and aerodromes have not been inspected? How can we expect to have a war on drugs or make progress if our coastline is virtually unguarded as we have only one scanner and one ship and our aerodromes are not inspected?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In this regard, for the most part, our law enforcement agencies, whether the customs service or the Garda Síochána, operate through good intelligence. To my knowledge, the customs service has visited as many aerodromes as necessary, given the type of intelligence it received. I expect it will continue to do so.