Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

Last night, I watched with great interest a television report on the massive Garda operation, and its unprecedented success, against organised crime. While I am delighted with such an outcome, I must ask how this criminal activity evolved. How did the Garda and the authorities allow organised criminals, thugs and gangsters in west Dublin to become established? It happened because the Garda did not have the resources to deal with the symptoms of organised criminal activity. Drugs and the smuggling of counterfeit goods are fuelling the activities of these organised gangsters.

Recently, a tanker with false numberplates, bearing the Shell logo and carrying customs non-approved fuel, was involved in a road accident. The only reason it was caught was that the poor driver crashed it. What is happening in this country?

I have complained all along that the resources are not present in the north west to tackle illegal dealing in drugs. The Customs and Excise boat in that area has now been sold and because of downsizing and reducing costs, the five people involved in the work will now be paid for doing nothing. Anyone who would like to bring drugs into this country is therefore advised to bring them in by the north west and then by rail to Dublin.