Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 18: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of heroin seized during 2006; the way this compares with 2005; his views on the huge increase in seizures of heroin, especially in view of the fact that the UN suggest that such seizures account for only around 25% of the total on the market; the steps the Gardaí are taking to reduce the flow of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6834/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the volume and street value of heroin seized for 2005 and 2006 is as set out in the following table:

I am also informed that the increase in the amount of heroin seized during 2006 is directly attributable to increased law enforcement through intelligence driven operations at national, regional, divisional and district level which is co-ordinated by the Garda National Drugs Unit in conjunction with other specialist Garda units and local Garda management.

An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include the following:

Identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this state

Conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing.

Working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade

Working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

Significant drug seizures including the considerable increase in the amount of heroin continuing to be seized in recent times have been made as a result of these operations. The operations, which are ongoing, continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and have led to the arrest in recent times of major criminals both based here and abroad who are involved in the drugs trade.

The record level of resources, both in financial and personnel terms, being made available to An Garda Síochána this year is proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure that the Garda authorities will continue to implement targeted, intelligence and high intensity operations against organised crime with a special focus on drugs crime. This commitment is further evidenced by the fact that the allocation for the Garda Vote for 2007 is up by €135.3m to €1.445 billion — an increase of 10% on the allocation for 2006.

Furthermore we are ensuring that our law enforcement agencies have a strong legislative platform from which to operate in their work in tackling those involved in such criminal activity.

While we already have a strong legislative package in place for tackling drug trafficking, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for further measures which will enhance the powers of the Gardaí in the investigation and prosecution of drug offences.

In addition, I recently secured Government approval to bring forward a further package of legislative proposals as a matter of priority to further counter the threat posed by gangland activity, especially in relation to drug trafficking and firearms.

Of course the Government would view with concern any apparent rise in the level of any illegal drugs being trafficked into this country. However, as I have pointed out the seizures also reflect the increasing success of the Garda's law enforcement measures targeting drug trafficking.

The drugs situation is dictated by global developments, it is dynamic and ever changing and our policies need to be flexible to meet those changes. For example, recent international data from the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime suggests that the level of heroin production, particularly in Afghanistan, has significantly increased in recent times and this undoubtedly has a direct effect on the amount of heroin in circulation globally.

In terms of estimating the proportion of drug seizures made in this jurisdiction by our law enforcement authorities in relation to the overall volumes of drugs being trafficked, obviously given the clandestine nature of this illegal activity this is extremely difficult to quantify with any degree of certainty and is speculative.

However, what can be said in this regard though is that the global illicit drug trade is, according to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reputed to exceed billions of US$ annually. That UN office estimated in 2005 that global seizures for that year accounted for 44% of cocaine production, 28% of cannabis resin, 25% of opium production, 7% of amphetamines and 4.7% of ecstasy.

Undoubtedly, drug misuse remains one of the most complex social ills faced globally. Our drug law enforcement response is of course a vital feature of our overall response in addressing the issue but we cannot just look at the issue from a supply reduction perspective only.

Rather, we must examine the drugs problem in the wider context in which it takes place and take cognisance of the fact that the demand for and the use of illegal drugs is what fuels the drugs trade. The measures that we have in place to address the problem must take account of this.

The Government remains resolutely committed to tackling the problem through our National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008.

The National Strategy addresses the problem under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague and Minister of State Mr. Noel Ahern, T.D., is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.

My Department's remit in this area, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction, and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

Finally, I can assure the House that the policy of targeting those involved in organised crime including drug trafficking and the gun culture with which it is associated remains the Government's top policing priority.