Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the Central Statistics Office crime figures for 2008 and on the continued increase in the number of drug offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14257/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent Central Statistics Office figures referred to by the Deputy show an increase of 25.4% in the overall total of drugs offences recorded for 2008 in comparison with 2007.

It is important to emphasise that, of their nature, drug offences are only recorded as a result of enforcement activity. For example, obviously possession of drugs for supply is only recorded as an offence where the law enforcement agencies have detected the offence and pursued it. The statistics in question, therefore, represent increased levels of enforcement and should lead to commendation of the efforts of those involved.

The House will be aware from media reports and elsewhere of the relentless action being taken particularly by An Garda Síochána in pursuing the activities of drugs gangs and the considerable success they have had through making major seizures and arrests.

Those successes are inevitably reflected in the recording of an increased number of drug offences but it would be a pity if, through some misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the statistics, this was to be counted as a failure rather than a success of their enforcement strategies.

That is not in any way to understate the extent of the problem of drug abuse and the need to devoting considerable resources to tackling it. That is exactly what is being done.

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.

In addition to the officers of the Force specifically assigned to the drugs issue who are attached to the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Divisional Drug Units, officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau all assist in our overall law enforcement response to drug trafficking and drug dealing.

In addition, 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 in tackling the problem.

Among recent and ongoing initiatives are the establishment of the Organised Crime Unit on a permanent footing, our involvement in the establishment and ongoing operation of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre in Lisbon, strengthened provisions in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007 and the ringfencing of €21million this year for Operation Anvil.

Furthermore, I am confident that the legislation which I announced last week dealing with surveillance will be of particular value in tackling drugs gangs.

Finally I am sure all members of the House will accept fully that we cannot tackle the problem of drug misuse through law enforcement measures alone. We need to tackle the demand for drugs and, in this context, I can assure the House that my Department, and all the agencies under its aegis, are cooperating fully in the development of the new National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009 to 2016 which is being drawn up under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.