Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the Central Statistics Office crime figures for 2008; his views on the continued increase in the number of drug offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7585/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The 2008 crime statistics published by the Central Statistics office show a number of encouraging trends. The number of homicide offences decreased by almost half (42.9%) during the year, with murder down 36.4% and manslaughter down 57.1%. The number of sexual offences was stable (up 1.1%), with rape down 2.8% and aggravated sexual assault down 33.3%. The number of cases of discharging a firearm decreased by 31.3%. While the number of cases of possession of a firearm increased by 8.2%, this is due primarily to increased Garda activity in combating this.

Controlled drug offences show an overall increase of 25.4%, with increases of 24.1% in the category of importation of drugs and 36% in cases of cultivation and manufacture of drugs. It is important to emphasise that, of their nature, in the vast majority of cases drug offences are recorded as a result of enforcement activity. The statistics in question, therefore, are the result of increased levels of enforcement and should lead to commendation of the efforts of those involved.

Through ongoing specific initiatives and intelligence-led operations, An Garda Síochána continues to seize substantial quantities of illegal drugs and identify those involved in the importation, distribution, sale and supply of illegal drugs. At present there are 379 members of the Force attached to the Divisional Drug Units and 60 to the National Drugs Unit. They, in turn, are supported by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau. The Gardaí work closely with Customs and the Naval Service under the umbrella of the Joint Task Force on Drugs as well as with their international colleagues.

Among recent and ongoing initiatives are the establishment of the Organised Crime Unit on a permanent footing, our involvement in the establishment and operation of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre in Lisbon, strengthened provisions in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007 and the ring-fencing of €21 million this year for Operation Anvil. I am confident that the legislation that I will be introducing shortly dealing with surveillance will be of particular value in tackling drugs gangs.

While the crime figures for 2008 are encouraging, there are no grounds for complacency. I recently stated my belief that the time has come for a strategic review of how we fight crime in the longer term and announced the development of the State's first White Paper on Crime. However, as that process develops, there will be no let up in the pace of reform already underway, which includes a ban on handguns, controls on knives, new surveillance powers to deal with organised crime and terrorism and the establishment of a DNA database.