Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if Operation Anvil, announced by him on 17 May 2006 remains in operation; the number of weapons seized to date; the number of arrests made; the number of charges preferred, arising from the operation; the length of time the operation will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30612/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain clothes patrols. The Operation remains in place and is on-going in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. It was extended nationwide in 2006.

Outside the Dublin Metropolitan Region, a series of special operations, prepared by senior Garda managers and designed to focus on areas and incidents of high crime, has been initiated. These operations are focused with particular targets identified. A number of these operations have been completed, while further are ongoing.

Operation Anvil has proved to be very successful in disrupting the criminal activities of a number of key criminal gangs. It has resulted in a number of high-profile arrests and the acquisition of intelligence on the movements of criminals. Notable improvements have been achieved in recorded crime in the target crime areas under the operation. An example of a recent success is the operation carried out in the Moyross area last week, in which four arrests were made and four firearms (two rifles and two sawn off shotguns) and a quantity of ammunition were seized.

A budget of approximately €11 million has been allocated for Operation Anvil during 2006, and the Garda Commissioner has been advised that an additional €10 million has been made available for further operations to tackle gang related crime.

The most recent figures available to me show that since the introduction of Operation Anvil in May 2005, 515 firearms have been seized in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. To date, Operation Anvil has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests for serious crimes, including 53 arrests in connection with murders in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Outside the DMR over 1,683 persons have been arrested and 135 firearms seized. I am advised that information on the number of charges preferred under Operation Anvil is not readily available.

In addition to the introduction of Operation Anvil, the Commissioner in November 2005 augmented the Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation with an additional 55 Garda members to address the problem of criminal gang activity. Enforcement by the Unit has resulted in further firearms being seized and a number of persons arrested, thereby disrupting their criminal activities.

Operation Anvil will continue to be funded to this extent as long as the Commissioner considers that it is necessary to do so and it is fulfilling its objectives.