Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Shannon; the number of vehicles that have been recovered; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of convictions secured to date; the cost of the operation to date; if this operation is still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37837/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Oak; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of convictions secured to date; the cost of the operation to date; if this operation is still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37838/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Oak, which commenced in November 2005, was an operation targeting a person suspected of being involved in organised criminal activity and his associates. The subject of the investigation was considered at that time to be a senior figure in an organised crime gang and his suspected activities included armed robbery, the importation and distribution of drugs and firearms, theft of vehicles and tax evasion.

As a result of the Operation a total of forty persons, who were considered key members of the organised crime gang, were arrested. Thirty-one persons were charged with related offences including attempted robbery, possession of firearms and the importation and sale / supply of illegal drugs.

Twenty-two persons have been convicted, to date, with warrants issued by the Courts in respect of two persons who have left the jurisdiction. The persons charged and convicted before the Courts received sentences ranging from 3 years to 15 years.

The Operation also resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of illegal drugs and firearms, together with cash and stolen vehicles recovered. Property linked to the target of this initiative and other criminal associates has also been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau and is the subject of proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996 and 2005.

Finally, I am advised by the Gardaí authorities that Operation Oak, which concluded in 2007, was a joint operation involving personnel from a number of National, District and Divisional Units of An Garda Síochána, with resources from all of these areas deployed to target the activities of this organised crime gang. To calculate the overall cost of the operation would necessitate a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.