Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to put organised criminal groups off the street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7874/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to combat the growth in armed organised criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7882/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of known to the Gardaí criminals or alleged criminals who are known to be members of criminal gangs and who are free or recently released from prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7886/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 172 and 176 together.

I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that organised criminal groups are being targeted on a number of fronts, including through the use of focused intelligence led operations by specialist units in An Garda Síochána. Specialist units within the Gardaí targeting organised crime operate under the remit of the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the National Support Services. These units include the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is the Garda specialist unit tasked with tackling organised crime. This unit carries out its role by conducting intelligence led operations and utilises the activities of a dedicated Organised Crime Unit. The Organised Crime Unit was established on a permanent basis in January 2008, with its primary function to identify organised crime groups that operate within the State through the use of increased profiling, intelligence gathering, overt and covert surveillance and threat assessments.

Measures put in place to combat the growth in armed organised criminal gangs include Operation Anvil which commenced in May 2005 in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and was extended nationwide in 2006. The primary focus of this operation is the disruption of serious and organised criminal activity and has resulted in approximately 1,240 firearms being recovered in Dublin and 1,090 in the rest of the country (to 11th February 2009). In addition, the value of property recovered under this Operation to date is approximately €31 million. The funding for Operation Anvil will increase in 2009 from €20 million to €21 million to enable it to continue with targeted disruption of serious and organised criminal activity

In addition, a wide range of measures were introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2006 to enhance the powers of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised criminal gangs. The provisions of this Act provide for sentencing of up to seven years for the unlawful possession of a firearm and mandatory minimum sentencing of five to ten years for more serious firearm offences.

I have been informed that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating within this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured and are 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.

Membership of organised crime 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. The identification of offenders as members of a criminal gang is not an essential criterion in the prosecution of offences. It is not therefore possible to ascertain the precise number of criminals who are also members of criminal gangs operating in this country. Senior management within An Garda Síochána continue to monitor developments as they occur to ensure that the resources at their disposal are deployed in the most effective manner so as to combat criminality.