Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to address the increase in gangland crime and murders over the past number of months; if his attention has been drawn to a recent United States Congressional Research Service report entitled Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress, in which it cited US Department of Homeland Security authorities which found that the production, smuggling and sale of tobacco products, including genuine and counterfeit cigarettes, is a lucrative form of financing for organised crime as well as terrorist groups (details supplied): if he is satisfied that Garda resources are being adequately deployed to tackle this source of income for dissident republicans as part of their efforts to tackle gangland crime; if he has discussed the issue with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55543/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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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.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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When the Garda Commissioner appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality recently, as the Minister will be aware, he outlined up to 25 criminal organisations operating in the State which are part of an organised crime network and gangland activities. It is mind-boggling to think that up to €860 million is being lost to the Exchequer by way of the illegal tobacco trade, fuel laundering, counterfeit goods, digital piracy and counterfeit medicines, apart from the illegal drugs trade, which is wreaking havoc in many communities throughout the country. People have asked me and others whether the State is beginning to lose the battle against these gangland criminals who are operating in Dublin and right across the country. Linked to that, the Minister needs to nail his colours to the mast in stating what will be the minimum number of members of An Garda Síochána in terms of the strength of the force.

How low will the Minister allow the numbers in the force to drop to before he states that is the minimum and that the force needs to be properly resourced by way of personnel? People are, rightly, pointing out to me and others that the Minister engaged in a recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces which resulted in the recent recruitment of 600 personnel. While it is not fair to compare a member of An Garda Síochána and a member of the Defence Forces on a one-for-one basis as they provide different services, how are we to win the war against gangland crime and avoid gangland related murders? We are seeing murders in broad daylight in the presence of minors and children nearly every day. These started well before the murder of Alan Ryan with the murder of Declan O'Reilly and other tit-for-tat murders, as well as the murder of the Northern Ireland prison officer David Black and last week's murder. The Minister has cited several operations in which An Garda Síochána is engaged which have enjoyed a large degree of success. By how much does the number of personnel in the force have to be watered down before the Minister recognises the need to recruit new members? Will he recognise that up to 1,200 gardaí could retire in the next year and that it will take two years to train new recruits?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I must call the Minister.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Before he counters with the argument that it is all due to the memorandum of understanding with the troika, the Government can change it, as it has gone back on some of its original provisions.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy, sadly, is addicted to soundbite politics.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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No, I am not.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy had listened-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Order, please.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I am, sadly, addicted to facts and reality.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been asked questions, but I cannot respond if the gentlemen feels the need to keep on shouting at me.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I am not shouting at the Minister.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy wants an answer to his questions, perhaps he might do me the courtesy of staying quiet while I am replying.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, I am not shouting at the Minister. I am sticking to the facts.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I have explained to the Deputy that there are six minutes per question. I have explained this to every Member and Minister.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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If the Minister wants to give an answer, he can avoid a personal insult. I know if he tries, he can do it.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy was listening to my reply, he would have noticed that in the context of the success of An Garda Síochána, whereas there were drugs seized in 2011 to a value of €65 million, in the first three quarters of 2012 the figure came to €90.4 million. The Garda has had an exceptionally successful year in targeting organised crime, those engaged in the sale of illegal drugs, tobacco smugglers and the subversive terrorists in our midst. The Deputy knows this and there is no sense of any description that the Garda is losing any battle. Instead, it is engaging in smart policing, specific and focused operations, as well as focusing on a broad range of issues within the criminal justice area. In the context of gangland crime, there are focused operations to curtail the activities of those engaged in gangs and bring them before the courts. The Garda has achieved enormous success in Limerick, for example, and over 60 gang members are now in prison.

The Deputy referred to recent events. However, as he knows, I am constrained in the House in saying anything about these events because of pending criminal prosecutions as a result of successful Garda investigations. It would be good if, for once, he acknowledged that we have a Garda force that is doing an extraordinary job and using its resources wisely. Like all other arms of the State, it has less funding available to it, but it is using existing funds more smartly and in a better and more targeted way than may have been the case seven years ago. The Deputy, in his addicted search for a tabloid headline, should restrain himself and avoid undermining public confidence in the work the Garda is doing and, for once, acknowledge it is doing an extraordinary job. Many of the force's members, in the interests of the communities they serve, place their lives at serious risk.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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It would be good if, for once, the Minister was honest with the people. To what personnel level is he going to allow Garda numbers fall before he realises the force is reaching a stage where it cannot take on the forces working against the State? I am not casting aspersions on An Garda Síochána and have acknowledged all of its successes. What I want to see the force do is to eradicate the problem completely. Everyone is united on this point. To what number of gardaí will the Minister allow the force to fall? Why will he not take a realistic look at the numbers and resource the force, bearing in mind that the cost of gangland activity to the Exchequer is €860 million per annum?

When the Minister claims up to 60 members of criminal gangs in the Limerick area are in jail, I must remind him that is the case because of legislation introduced by the previous Government. He is very quick to claim the previous Government was not performing. All of these gang members are behind bars because of changes to criminal justice legislation introduced by the Minister's predecessor.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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We have similar numbers in the Garda Síochána to the numbers in 2007. Is the Deputy suggesting the Garda was not up to the job in that year? We have more members of An Garda Síochána today than we had at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. An additional 213 Garda vehicles were purchased this year at a cost of €4 million. At a time of financial difficulty and when budgets are being trimmed, I have specifically allocated €5 million for the purchase of new Garda vehicles next year. The Deputy seems to resent the fact that the Defence Forces were allowed to recruit.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I do not resent it. I was just pointing it out.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please, Deputy.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When I entered government, the Defence Forces had been-----

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order-----

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is at it again. He cannot resist.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister cannot claim I resent the extra numbers in the Defence Forces because I do not.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We are over time on this question.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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People outside the House are rightly asking how the Minister can recruit an extra 600 personnel for the Defence Forces, yet he will not do the same for An Garda Síochána.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy cannot resist.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Why will the Minister not answer that question?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We are over time.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I know the truth is irritating, but the Deputy might let me finish.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Minister cannot answer the question.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I know the Deputy is upset when I tell the truth, but he might let me finish.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I do not get upset.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When I entered government and had the privilege of being appointed Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence, I discovered in the defence area that the way funding had been allocated by the Deputy's predecessors in government was to make a pretence of the amount available for the current members of the Defence Forces when in reality the Defence Forces were heading towards a position where their numbers would be lower than 8,000. The Government has provided for and guaranteed a strength of 9,500 personnel for the Defence Forces. As a consequence, I am proud of the fact that in 2012 we recruited 600 new members for the Defence Forces.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Yet the complement of gardaí will fall below 12,000.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In the context of An Garda Síochána, the previous Government tied us to a position where we would be honour bound to reduce expenditure-----

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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The Government can change this.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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-----and a commitment was given that by the end of 2013 numbers in An Garda Síochána would reduce to 13,000. If the Deputy wants to be in denial, it does not matter how loud he shouts at me. These are the facts.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister has still not stated to what level he will allow the complement of gardaí to drop before he recruits more members.