Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps the Gardaí are taking to deal with a reported feud between two criminal gangs in Dublin which has led to numerous shootings and incidents and attacks using explosive devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27022/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 52 of today.

I condemn the activities of those involved in organised crime who carry out attacks on others with whom they regard themselves as being in dispute and who do not hesitate to use lethal weapons in doing so. In particular, I condemn attacks on people who appear to have been targeted for no other reason other than that they are relatives of certain individuals.

An Garda Síochána, of course, shares my grave concern at these activities. The Force is devoting significant resources to preventing such serious incidents occurring and, where necessary, is being aided by the expertise of the Army in doing so.

An Garda Síochána meets this task by strategic actions, including in particular continuous and intensive intelligence-led operations against groups and individuals engaged in such illegal activity. Available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units in targeting persons and groups. It is used in carrying out searches and arrests aimed at preventing attacks. The searches contribute to intelligence gathering, and the arrests apprehend persons suspected of being involved in such attacks. Profiles regarding the personnel of organised criminal gangs are continually updated.

Both uniformed and plain-clothes Garda patrols and checkpoints have been increased in areas where it is considered likely such attacks might take place. In recent months, action has been focused on particular individuals. Search operations have taken place with the aim of identifying the sources of devices, such as pipe bombs, being used. A quantity of such devices has been seized, and a number of persons have been arrested and charged. These persons are currently before the courts. Firearms and drugs have also been recovered, resulting in the arrest and charging of persons suspected of having significant involvement in such criminality.

The Garda Commissioner has established, on a permanent basis, the Organised Crime Unit, with the specific objective of targeting those suspected of involvement in organised crime, including drug trafficking, importation, sale and supply. Similar operations are undertaken by Garda specialist units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in May, 2005 to deal with this type of serious crime and was extended nationwide in 2006. The primary focus of the Operation is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt, visible patrolling and static checkpoints by uniform, mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain clothes patrols.