Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 26: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of organised crime gangs operating here; his proposals to bring their activities to an immediate stop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32955/08]

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

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals/groups that are well established and tightly structured, involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland. The membership of organised gangs tends to be fluid and the nature of criminal activity is such that offences committed by members of gangs may or may not be connected with the individual's membership of such gangs. It is therefore not possible, without the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time and resources, to attribute specific figures to the membership or activity of such gangs.

Organised criminal gangs operating in this jurisdiction are targeted on an ongoing basis and profiles regarding the personnel of such groups are continually updated. Their members, operating methods, criminal interests and financial assets are likewise proactively targeted. Intelligence-led operations, primarily undertaken by specialist units of An Garda Síochána under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, are regularly undertaken, targeting those suspected of being involved in Organised Crime. These specialist units include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

An Garda Síochána maintains liaison with other law enforcement agencies throughout Europe, and elsewhere, exchanging information and intelligence on Irish criminals living abroad. This ongoing liaison has led to a number of successful joint operations, targeting attempted importations of drugs and firearms, resulting in a number of significant arrests here and in other jurisdictions. Where intelligence, supported by evidence is available, law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions put operations in place, as appropriate, to prevent and detect such criminality.

Where information exists that a person who is wanted in relation to a particular crime in this jurisdiction is living abroad and where the particular legal requirements apply, extradition is sought or an application is made for a European Arrest Warrant. Where there is justification and a legal basis, those suspected of involvement in criminal activity are arrested, detained and questioned in relation to specific crimes. A member of An Garda Síochána must, at all times, have reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has been involved in criminal activity before they can arrest and question any person in relation to criminality.

Ireland is a party to various International Conventions which provide for assistance in criminal matters between jurisdictions. An Garda Síochána send and receive requests for assistance via the Central Authority for Mutual Assistance at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Requests for Assistance may also be dealt with on the basis of reciprocity where certain jurisdictions may not be a party to specific conventions. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda authorities established an Organised Crime Unit on a temporary basis in November 2005 to target organised criminal gangs. The Garda Commissioner established the Unit on a permanent basis in January 2008 and it now has a complement of seventy officers. A review of its activities and strength is ongoing.

Since its establishment, the Organised Crime Unit has pro-actively targeted criminal gangs engaged in diverse types of criminality which transcend the organisational and divisional boundaries of An Garda Síochána. The main forms of criminality being committed by these gangs include armed robberies, hi-jacking of valuable loads and commodities, warehouse robberies/burglaries, 'tiger' kidnappings, cash-in-transit robberies, bank robberies involving firearms and the importation of large quantities of controlled drugs. Through focused, intelligence-led operations, success has been achieved and the activities of many of the organised crime groups have been disrupted. A number of persons suspected of involvement in this type of criminality have been apprehended on serious charges with many before the courts facing lengthy sentences.

The Organised Crime Unit has taken the lead role in targeting organised criminal gangs in conjunction with the assistance of other national units. The unit's primary functions are as follows:

To identify organised crime groups that operate within the State through increased profiling, intelligence gathering, overt and covert surveillance and threat assessments.

To develop intelligence on highly organised and professional groups of criminals involved in serious crime and whose operations transcend district/divisional and regional boundaries.

To develop intelligence and information supplied by confidential sources on major targeted criminals.

To liaise with the National Criminal Intelligence Unit in developing intelligence and information from all sources in relation to serious and organised criminal groups.

The Organised Crime Unit will continue to work closely with the other specialist units, including the Garda National Drugs Unit, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Special Detective Unit and the Emergency Response Unit in targeting those suspected of involvement in organised criminal activity. I can assure the Deputy that Garda management are keeping the issue of the activities of criminal gangs under review with a view to ensuring that a robust and effective law enforcement response is in place to counter illegal activities.