Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Crime Levels

7:00 pm

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the information available as to the extent of contract killings here; and if he has proposals to deal with same. [41832/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Published crime figures provide information on the number of homicide offences committed each year. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been 20 murders with firearms since the beginning of this year to 6 December. There were 19 murders with firearms recorded for the same period in 2005.

All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of a rigorous investigation by the Garda authorities. All available intelligence is analysed, and the identification of the motive and the evidence available in its support are key elements of the investigation and prosecution process. Speculation as to the nature of the motive in particular crimes and the circumstances surrounding them could serve to jeopardise a successful investigation and prosecution and, accordingly, the house will appreciate the need for reticence in this regard.

While there have been a number of murders concerning feuding gangs, there is no information available to the Garda authorities that these murders were the result of contract killings. The Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been tasked by Garda management with monitoring the movements and generating intelligence in relation to all known suspects who may be involved in this type of crime.

I am assured by the Garda authorities that all information and intelligence available to An Garda Síochána concerning the threat to the safety of any individual's life is acted upon. The Garda Síochána attach the highest priority to combating and preventing killings such as those resulting from organised crime and the activities of criminal gangs. Operation Anvil is central to the strategy of the Garda Síochána in combating such crime and in particular murder. The Operation, which commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in May, 2005 and was subsequently extended nationwide at my request, 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 the recorded number of incidents of crime being targeted by the Operation. In particular, I am pleased to note that the number of offences of discharging a firearm was stable in the third quarter of this year, the most recent full quarter. I believe that Operation Anvil has contributed significantly to this and also to the increase in that quarter of detections of offences of possession of drugs for sale or supply and of cultivation, manufacture or importation of drugs, which are closely associated with many murders using firearms.

The most recent figures available to me show that since the introduction of Operation Anvil in May 2005, 549 firearms have been seized in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Up to 19 November, Operation Anvil has resulted in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in more than 3,350 arrests for the serious crimes of murder, robbery, burglary and serious assaults, including 56 arrests in connection with murder. Outside the DMR and up to 1 November, 2,600 persons have been arrested and 238 firearms seized.

In addition to the introduction of Operation Anvil, the Garda 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. There has also been an increase in Garda monitoring and targeting of individuals and groups involved in armed crime in particular.

Following the completion of the weapons amnesty on 31 October, the mandatory minimum sentences in relation to possession of firearms came into effect on 1 November. The penalties available to the courts have now been greatly strengthened and stringent penalties now apply.

I am very satisfied with the outcome of the 2007 Estimates process. The allocation for the Garda Vote is increasing by €135.3 million to €1.445 billion — an increase of 10% on 2006. This year's budget in turn represented an increase of 13% on 2005 and an increase of 85% in real terms since 1997. The additional overtime allocation included in this will yield almost three million extra man hours of policing by uniformed and special units throughout the State. As a result, successful anti-crime strategies and operations such as Operation Anvil will be continued and intensified on a nationwide basis. This increase demonstrates that this Government continues to provide record resources for anti-crime strategies.

The Government and I are also committed to increasing the strength of the Garda Síochána. I am informed that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 on 16 November, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 21.5% (2,298) in the personnel strength of the Force in the period since then. The induction of 280 new Garda recruits to the Garda College on 6 November resulted in a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,137. Next year will see more than 275 fully trained Gardaí graduating from the Garda College every quarter, allowing the Commissioner to focus a highly visible policing presence throughout the country.

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