Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is appraised of the ongoing activities of the various drug and criminal gangs; if he has familiarised himself with the number, scale and location of their operation; if they have become involved in intimidating or compromising the security industry; if they continue to operate here and simultaneously at various locations throughout Europe and further afield; if adequate resources are available to the Garda to track, monitor and charge the principals of such operations; the number of convictions of such persons in the past five years; if they remain in prison; the extent if known, to which they have carried on their criminal activities while in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6945/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner on a range of important issues, including the problems caused by organised crime and criminal gangs. In order to disrupt such criminality, Garda operations are regularly put in place to target individuals and gangs suspected of involvement in criminal activity and such operations, for example initiatives under Operation Anvil, have proved successful with many persons arrested and brought before the courts in connection with serious crimes. I am also informed by the Garda Authorities that, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was recently refined to become the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA), an annual assessment of organised crime in Ireland was carried out. This assessment was completed in November 2006.

This analysis concluded that the nature of organised crime gangs in this State continues to be the same as in previous years. In this respect, there are two categories of groups in organised crime operating in this jurisdiction.

The first category consists of individuals operating in groups that are well established and tightly structured and involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and are involved in criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland.

An Garda Síochána will continue to utilise intelligence-led operations against selected targets to combat the criminal activities of these groups. However, because of the relatively fluid nature of those involved in serious crime in Ireland, it is not possible to easily place them in a particular group. Therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate and definitive number for the various groups operating here.

In relation to the private security industry, in 2004 I established the Private Security Authority. The Authority, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, has responsibility for regulating the industry and has already introduced licensing in a number of areas, most recently the cash in transit sector. I am confident that the regulatory framework the Authority is putting in place will prevent any compromising of the security industry.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that, particularly as a result of the proactive role of the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialist units in targeting the proceeds of crime in this jurisdiction, a number of Irish criminals have re-located to the continent.

Some of these individuals continue to engage in criminal activity and this may impact on criminality in this jurisdiction. There is some evidence to support the fact that criminal groupings in this State have links to similar groups in other jurisdictions. However, it is not possible to quantify the extent to which Irish nationals based abroad are involved in criminal activity.

Where evidence exists to support a prosecution in this State against any particular individual residing outside the jurisdiction, an extradition application is pursued with the competent authority where extradition agreements are in place.

The Deputy will appreciate that Garda resources are at unprecedented levels and are increasing. These are deployed by the Garda Commissioner to address effectively the types of issues that the Deputy refers to.

In relation to the specific information requested by the Deputy about convictions and prison sentences imposed, this is not readily available as it would require considerable research by An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service. It would therefore not be prudent to allocate resources to carrying out such research at the expense of operational policing. I am also aware of reports suggesting that prisoners may be engaged in criminal activities, including drug dealing, from inside prison cells and I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to continuing to implement all appropriate measures to deal with such activity and to ensure that the prisoner's contact with the outside world is tightly controlled and monitored in an appropriate way. For example, prisoner visits in all closed prisons are carefully controlled and held in sight of prison officers and monitored on CCTV. The implementation of a passive drug dog detection programme is currently underway and initial reports are very positive. There is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues and Gardaí will be contacted whenever any suspected criminal offence has taken place.

One of the major challenges in prisons worldwide lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons, are viewed as highly valuable commodities which could assist in illegal activity. Efforts are made on a continuous basis to prevent the flow of such contraband into our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, upgraded CCTV monitoring, the use of screened visits and prisoner and cell searches. In addition, plans to avail of technological options for dealing with the use of mobile phones within prisons are at an advanced stage.

The Deputy may also be aware of a recent directive to the effect that a number of serious drug and criminal gang members are now to be segregated in a special area of Cloverhill Prison. It is anticipated that this initiative, in conjunction with the other measures referred to earlier, will prevent them from exerting inappropriate influence over other persons.