Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the evidence he has that the supply of crack cocaine here is increasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10006/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that while the number of seizures of freebase or crack cocaine continues to represent a very small proportion of the total number of cocaine seizures recorded annually, there has been an increase in the number of such seizures in this jurisdiction over the past three years. This is a matter of concern and the Garda authorities have taken a number of measures to address the problem.

The Garda national drugs unit and local drugs units conduct intelligence-driven operations to target individuals suspected of involvement in the distribution of freebase cocaine. Drug units and community policing personnel are engaged in intelligence gathering on individuals and groups suspected of involvement in the sale and distribution of the drug. There is also targeted patrolling by uniformed and plain clothes personnel of problem areas in order to detect and disrupt persons involved in such activity.

As the Deputy is aware, the National Drugs Strategy 2001-08 addresses the problem of drug misuse across a number of pillars — supply reduction, prevention, treatment rehabilitation and research — and implementation of the strategy across a range of Departments and agencies is co-ordinated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Government is aware of the increased prevalence of cocaine usage in recent times and efforts to tackle it are broadly based to include measures aimed at both supply and demand reduction, including awareness initiatives.

It is a key objective of the national drugs strategy to reduce access to all drugs, particularly those drugs that cause most harm, to young people especially in those areas where misuse is most prevalent. The strategy specifies a number of supply reduction targets for the Garda Síochána in terms of all drug seizures and the Garda have achieved considerable successes in relation to these targets to date. The trafficking and distribution of all illicit drugs, including hydrochloric and freebase cocaine, at local, national and international levels will continue to be vigilantly monitored by the Garda.

The Criminal Justice Bill, which is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas, provides a comprehensive package of anti-crime measures that will enhance the powers of the Garda in the investigation and prosecution of offences, including drug offences. It includes provisions relating to search warrant powers for the Garda. In November 2005, I obtained Government approval to draft a range of amendments to the Bill, which I intend to table during its passage through the Oireachtas. Proposed amendments include the creation of criminal offences in relation to participation in organised crime and the strengthening of existing provisions for the ten year mandatory minimum sentence for drug trafficking.