Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity and value of seizures of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and of other drugs here during 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the proportion of the overall flow of drugs into Ireland which is believed to be represented by these seizures; the new initiatives he plans to control the flow of illegal drugs into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31159/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The following tabular statement gives the latest available information in relation to drug seizures for 2007, 2008 and this year to date.

This statement shows seizures of a total value of over €168m being made in 2007 and just over €200m in 2008.

Because of the covert nature of the activity, it is simply not possible to give a reliable estimate of the proportion of drugs coming into the country that these figures represent.

While it is true that some international studies attempt to estimate the proportion of overall drugs seized to production, this is not a reliable guide to the situation in any particular country. In particular, such figures cannot reflect increased enforcement levels in a country.

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.

An Garda Síochána is satisfied that, in addition to the considerable volume of drugs seized to date in 2009, a significant impact continues to be made by the arrest and prosecution of a number of major players involved in drug trafficking.

Recent and ongoing initiatives include

the operation of the Organised Crime Unit on a permanent capacity,

ongoing Irish involvement in the work of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre in Lisbon,

strengthened provisions in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007 and

the ringfencing of resources this year for Operation Anvil.

I am also confident that the recent legislation that I introduced dealing with surveillance coupled with the further measures put in place to tackle organised crime through the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act will be of particular value in tackling drugs gangs.

Finally, it is clear that we cannot tackle the problem of drug misuse through law enforcement measures alone. As set out in the Government's recently launched new National Drugs Strategy for the period 2009 to 2016, we need to address the problem in a co-ordinated way across the pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.

In this context, I can assure the House that my Department, and all the agencies under its aegis, are fully committed to this approach and to the implementation of the Strategy.

The Garda authorities advise that the following tables show the quantities of drugs seized in 2007, 2008 and up to and including 11 September, 2009, on the basis of cases already reported to the Forensic Science Laboratory.