Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which provision is being made or enhanced to combat the activity of criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31574/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has monitored the level of activity in criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31577/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 448 together. Tackling serious crime remains a key ongoing priority both for the Government and for An Garda Síochána.

The Policing Plan of An Garda Síochána for 2011 sets out the commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in organised criminal activities.

Accordingly, the Garda Commissioner has put special measures in place to combat criminal gangs. These measures include the deployment of significant resources with a number of operational approaches, including a multi-agency approach and the use of intelligence-targeted operations.

The lead role in this approach is being undertaken by the Garda Organised Crime Unit which targets organised criminal gangs. The Unit works in conjunction with other Garda national units such as the Emergency Response Unit, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

All of these units cooperate very closely and as a result of targeted Garda operations in this area a number of persons (including members of criminal groups) are before the Courts charged with serious offences.

Through this work the monitoring of organised criminal gangs is ongoing and is kept under constant review.

The Deputy will also be aware that the criminal law targeting organised crime has, in recent times, being the subject of significant amendment, primarily with the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 and other related pieces of legislation including the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 with regard to covert surveillance, and the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 with regard to the use of weapons.

As I have indicated previously to the House, it is my intention to keep under review the question of whether any further improvements could be made to the overall legislative framework in this area to render it more effective. In this regard, I have recently written to the Garda Commissioner to ascertain his views on the operation of this body of legislation and, in particular, the operation of the 2009 Act. In addition, in accordance with the commitments contained in the Programme for Government it is my intention, in due course, to bring forward legislative proposals which will serve to strengthen the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau in relation to forfeiting the proceeds of crime.