Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the actions which will be prioritised under the new National Drugs Strategy to combat the supply of drugs here; the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41713/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 17 actions, Nos. 2 to 18, inclusive, of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-20016 are included under the supply reduction pillar. The objectives of this pillar are to significantly reduce the volume of illicit drugs; to prevent the emergence of new markets for illicit drugs; to disrupt the activities of organised criminal networks; to target the income generated through illicit drug trafficking; and to reduce community drug problems.

The actions of the strategy envisage an increased emphasis on community policing, including through the continued roll-out of local policing forums and the inclusion of drugs issues in a more central way in the work of joint policing committees. Also, I recently announced the extension of the "Dial to Stop Drug Dealing" campaign that has proven effective. Lead responsibility for the delivery of much of the supply reduction pillar of the strategy lies with the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Custom Service.

As set out in the strategy, I will meet twice a year with a number of Ministers and various senior officials who are directly involved in the work to address the drugs problem. Since the strategy was launched in September I have already met under this process with the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform and the Secretary General of that Department, the Garda Commissioner and senior officials of Revenue's Custom Service. These meetings greatly facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the drugs problem, allow for a useful exchange of views on issues arising in respect of relevant actions of the national drugs strategy and focus on the importance of the continued effective implementation of other programmes that affect the factors underpinning problem drug use.

An oversight forum on drugs, which I chair, has been established under the strategy and the first meeting was held last month. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda and Revenue's customs service are represented on this forum, the primary role of which is the ongoing high level examination of progress across the strategy and the addressing of operational difficulties and blockages that arise.

A drugs advisory group also has been set up with membership drawn from across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. This group, which meets approximately once a fortnight, advises me, as Minister, on operational and policy matters relating to the national drugs strategy and oversees and supports the work of the drugs task forces. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda and Revenue's customs service also are represented on this group.

I am determined that real progress will be made to combat the supply of drugs across the period of the strategy, with all sectors working in a co-ordinated and targeted way to achieve the implementation of the agreed actions.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State's response referred to meetings, resources and everything that is being attempted in Ireland to prevent drugs use and in particular to prevent young people from taking drugs from the perspective of going into schools to educate them. Recently however, Judge Tony Hunt called for security at private airports to be increased. It is outrageous that the Judiciary is worried about drugs coming into this country via private airports. As for the level of checking at such airports, only 18 checks were performed at Weston Aerodrome this year. What are the Minister of State, his committee, the Government and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform doing about private airports?

It is similar to the two-tier approach taken to the issue of drugs itself. While one will not see Garda activity at parties frequented by the upper class, it will be seen in working-class areas in which it is known drugs will be present. A two-tier system is in operation in Ireland in respect of law and order and drugs. Moreover, a two-tier system exists regarding the importation of drugs. The Minister of State should meet the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform immediately and should then report back to this House to inform Members of the measures being taken by the Government and the Garda to stop drugs from being imported via private airports. Second, the Minister of State should raise the issue of unregistered mobile telephones with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Although such mobile telephones can be used by gangsters and criminals to tip one another off, there is no security or monitoring of them. I seek information on what is happening in this regard.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Some of the matters raised are outside the Minister of State's direct ministerial responsibility.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He is on the relevant committee that meets in this regard.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is true.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The specific question asked by the Deputy regarding private airfields and so on perhaps should not be directed towards the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand it falls more properly under the remit of the Revenue Commissioners. I have met the Revenue Commissioners who have advised me that the traffic coming through such airports is profiled and that the Revenue Commissioners have mobile units that carry out random checks. Such random checks are a feature of customs operations and are performed quite regularly, based on profiling of flights, traffic and so forth. Moreover, this does not simply pertain to flights but to traffic entering all ports nationwide. The use of profiling, intelligence and information is the primary way in which the customs service conducts its business.

The Deputy made a number of comments as if to suggest nothing has been done. It is important to put on the record of the House that since the strategy was published on 10 September 2009, I have held a series of meetings with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, that Department's Secretary General, customs, Revenue and the Garda Commissioner and I will outline some of the actions arising therefrom. The number of dog units used to detect drugs entering ports has increased. The customs service recently has launched a new cutter at sea. A new mobile scanner for incoming trucks will be operational before the end of this year. Operation Anvil has been allocated increased funding in the current year. The Government has introduced legislation such as the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act in respect of gangland crime and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. I also have extended the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign. These actions have been carried out specifically to tackle this problem in recent months.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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While everything the Minister of State says is fine, the problem is that a member of the Judiciary has made a public statement to the effect that he is unhappy with the lack of regulation of private airports. Moreover, neither I nor the country in general is happy. The Minister of State should respond in this House at a later stage to the effect that sniffer dogs, the Garda, the customs service and whoever has responsibility will be deployed at private airports, as the flow of drugs into this country must be stopped. The criminals are sophisticated and if they wish to import drugs through private airports, they must be stopped and it should not be made easy for them. The tests that are in place for public airports must also apply for private airports. If this requires the installation of full-time staff in private airports, then this must be done because the scourge of drugs must be stopped.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I disagree with the Deputy when he states that nothing is being done. As I noted, every flight into a private airport is regulated and monitored. The customs service, based on its information, decides on whether to perform a check. This is a small island nation and the risk is as great from the sea. I note that seizures made in this regard have been made at sea rather than at airports. The only way in which we will deal with this issue from a supply reduction point of view is through improved international co-operation. In that regard, I advise the Deputy that the Garda's liaison officers are based in London, the Hague, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon, Europol and Interpol. As one cannot patrol every seaport and airport on a permanent basis, the manner in which one can achieve an effective supply reduction is through such intelligence and information sharing.