Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of procedures, actions, prosecutions or other interventions that have been taken since or arising from the passage of the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009, the Criminal Justice Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 and the Criminal Justice Amendment Act 2009; the success or otherwise of any or all of the prosecutions taken against organised criminal gangs under the aforementioned legislation; the number of gangland inspired criminal activities identified, recorded or noted that have been brought to the attention of the gardai and investigated since the passage of the legislation; the number of criminal procedures initiated under the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5645/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the legislation referred to in the question represents additional legislative resources that the Oireachtas has made available to An Garda Síochána to facilitate them in their fight against serious and organised crime.

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

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

I am however advised that a number of Garda investigation files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and I can assure this House that members of An Garda Síochána continue to utilise all resources available to them in order to combat the activities of those engaged in criminality of all forms.

As Minister, I remain fully committed to supporting them in their ongoing efforts and will ensure that the necessary resources are made available as and when they may be required.