Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of shootings, including fatal shootings, attributable to organised crime gangs in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36587/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána is engaged on a daily basis in targeting criminals who are suspected of involvement in the use of firearms. These individuals are monitored and arrested where reasonable grounds exist that they are involved in criminal activity. In many cases firearms have been seized and persons charged.

All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by An Garda Síochána. Terms such as gangland murders and drug related murders do not correspond to the manner in which An Garda Síochána classifies crime or particular offences. Caution is necessary in ascribing particular motives to any particular incident as, potentially, this might jeopardise the procedures which need to be followed for the proper investigation and prosecution of offences.