Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action taken to monitor the movement of criminal gang members between this country and other EU and non-EU locations; the number of such movements intercepted in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6041/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if members or leaders of criminal gangs wanted by the gardaí have left this jurisdiction in the past two and a half years; if efforts have been made for their extradition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6042/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times the principals or members of known criminal gangs have left this jurisdiction and returned in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6043/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 233, inclusive, together.

An Garda Síochána continues to work closely with other international law enforcement agencies to ensure that those involved in criminality do not find safe havens for their activities regardless of their geographical location.

To this end Garda Liaison Officers are based in London, The Hague, Madrid, Paris, Europol and Interpol in order to provide a conduit to facilitate the sharing of information and intelligence on those suspected of involvement in criminality, including those suspected of involvement in the trafficking of illegal drugs. Most recently, a Garda and a Customs Liaison Officer have been assigned to the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) in Lisbon which focuses primarily on coordinating action against drug trafficking from West Africa and South America.

Where action is required to further frustrate the activities of Irish criminals who are based abroad, An Garda Síochána may avail of a range of options available to them under Mutual Legal Assistance arrangements, including the European Arrest Warrant scheme.

The compilation of specific statistics relating to the number of times persons of interest are known to have entered or left this jurisdiction would take an inordinate amount of staff time and could not be justified given other pressing demands on resources.