Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if all sections of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009 have now been brought into operation; the number of occasions on which the powers contained in the Act have been used since its enactment; the number of prosecutions transferred to the Special Criminal Court under the provisions of Section 8 of the Act; the number of charges that have proffered under the powers contained in the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46190/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Criminal Justice [Amendment] Act 2009 became law on 23 July 2009 and all sections of the Act are in operation. Section 8 of the Act schedules the organised crime offences specified for the purpose of the provisions under the Offences Against the State Act 1939 relating to the use of the Special Criminal Court.

This is a new piece of legislation aimed at tackling serious crimes and I can assure the House that An Garda Síochána have been actively using its provisions to target and disrupt organised criminal networks and their activities.

Given the relatively recent enactment of the legislation it is too early to collate meaningful statistics in relation to the operation of all of its provisions.

Given the serious nature of the offences dealt with under the legislation in question a full and thorough investigation of individuals and their activities must be conducted before charges can be brought against them.

While to date no person have been charged with offences dealt with under this legislation, a number of Garda Investigation Files are at various stages of completion for submission to the Law Officers for consideration as to what charges should be preferred.

I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána will continue to utilise all available legislation, including all the additional legislative provisions recently introduced by the Oireachtas relating to organised crime, to develop and implement strategies to continue to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks.