Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 107: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the findings of the survey carried out for the National Advisory Committee on Drugs which found that the number of people using cocaine had more than doubled in most parts of the country between 2003 and 2007; the steps being taken to stop the flow of cocaine into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27025/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Over the last number of years the Government has of course been aware of and concerned by the increasing prevalence of cocaine use in Ireland. We are not alone in this as this development reflects increasing use of the drug across all of Europe in recent times.

As the Deputy points out, the drug prevalence study recently produced by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) which measured illegal drug use in Ireland over the period 2006/2007 confirmed that there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of cocaine use here albeit from a low level. These results present a challenge for us all in the development of our new National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.

Prior to the completion of this study, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine, based on existing data in Ireland. This paper was presented to the Interdepartmental Drugs Group in September 2006.

The paper, which was published as part of a wider study on cocaine published in March 2007, concluded that all data sources indicated an upward trend in cocaine use here. A number of recommendations are made in the paper, principally in regard to treatment, but also covering supply, prevention and research.

The Interdepartmental Drugs Group, chaired by my colleague Minister of State John Curran T.D., is currently liaising with the relevant Departments and Agencies in relation to their implementation of the recommendations contained in the report.

From the law enforcement perspective, one of the primary functions of An Garda Síochána is to reduce the supply of all illegal drugs including cocaine.

The steps taken by An Garda Síochána to address the illicit supply of cocaine and indeed all illegal drugs include the following:

The on-going investigation and intelligence gathering by the Garda National Drugs Unit in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, both national & international including the Customs Service.

The investigation and intelligence gathering by other National Units such as the Organised Crime Unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation whose activities relate to organised crime & drug trafficking.

The ongoing investigation and activities by Divisional & District Drug Units operating throughout the State which have been established with the specific remit of targeting individuals engaged in the sale and distribution of drugs to local communities.

These units are supported by local resources as well as National Units including the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda Technical Bureau, the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Garda specialist services section.

Internationally, An Garda Síochána works closely with relevant law enforcement agencies including with other E.U. Agencies, the US Drugs Enforcement Agency and Interpol and Europol. Presently An Garda Síochána have liaison officers based in the Hague, London, Paris, Madrid, Europol and Interpol.

In addition, the recently established Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) MAOC(N) in Lisbon, of which Ireland is a founding member is a focused initiative which has the specific objective of intercepting narcotic shipments, in particular cocaine, to the European Union from Latin America. A Garda Liaison Officer will soon be based permanently at the centre.

The volume and value of cocaine seizures which continue to be made by the Gardaí demonstrates that such strategies are resulting in significant operational successes.

Undoubtedly, this is ongoing work in progress and the Government fully acknowledges that tackling the problem of all drug trafficking remains an ongoing challenge to be faced with vigilance.

In concluding, I would also like to reiterate the point I have made previously on the drugs issue which is to stress that while the State clearly has responsibilities in these matters, the fact is that all of us as Irish citizens have choices to make and responsibilities to uphold with regard to drug use as it is the demand for drugs which fuels the drugs trade.

Finally I would like to assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the measures and resources for tackling all forms of drug trafficking, including cocaine, under review.