Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to incidences whereby protection money has been illegally demanded from businesses in the State or in which protection money is being paid; the State protections afforded to businesses who find themselves in such circumstances; the efforts being made by his Department and that of An Garda Síochána to counter such activity; if An Garda Siochana has been provided with sufficient resources to address such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46644/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Where information comes into the possession of An Garda Síochána indicating the type of activity suggested by the Deputy, it is subject to thorough investigation.

An Garda Síochána, in accordance with the priorities determined by the Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform pursuant to Section 20 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005 and 2007, is committed to targeting organised criminal groups engaged in serious crime and those who facilitate the activities of these groupings.

The Garda Commissioner's Annual Policing Plan sets out strategic goals including inter alia a commitment to significantly reduce the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. These goals are backed up by strategic actions which include a commitment to continue and intensify intelligence-led operations against groups and individuals engaged in the trafficking of illegal drugs, guns and immigrants into and within the State.

An Garda Síochána utilises intelligence-led operations to target organised crime gangs. All available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units to target particular gangs.

Organised crime is being targeted on a number of fronts, including the use of uniformed and plain-clothes Gardaí overtly and covertly disrupting known criminals in the course of criminal activities. Specialist units from National Support Services are also assisting in these operations and apply their expertise to different aspects of criminal activity. A number of organised crime groups have been targeted in this manner recently with firearms being recovered and drugs seized resulting in a number of people being prosecuted and convicted before the Courts.

In November 2005 the Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was set up to combat the growth of organised crime, and in particular armed criminal gangs. The Unit will continue to work closely with other specialist units, including the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Special Detective Unit / Emergency Response Unit, in targeting those suspected of involvement in organised criminal activity.

Senior management in An Garda Síochána will continue to monitor the activities of criminals to ensure that law enforcement activities adapt to changing circumstances.