Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation since the introduction of anti-gangland legislation; the number of persons charged with participation offences; the number of persons convicted of these offences; the number of files currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions; and the number of persons arrested under this legislation. [40138/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Garda authorities that in the period since the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 was enacted on 23 July 2009 up to 30 November 2011, the legislation has been used on 160 occasions where arrests have been made relating to organised crime activity. To date, eight individuals have been charged under the provisions. Two persons have been charged under Section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as inserted by section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (directing a criminal organisation). Six persons have been charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as inserted by section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (participating etc in organised crime).

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the arrests referred to earlier have also resulted in other charges being preferred for a range of other offences including firearms offences, offences relating to the sale and supply of drugs and drug trafficking, violent disorder and demanding money with menaces. These charges are pending the submission of comprehensive Investigation Files to the Law Officers. To date, there has been no person convicted before the Courts for the offences provided by way of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 in relation to organised criminal activity.

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of files currently with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and will revert to the Deputy in due course. The Deputy will be aware that I have indicated my intention to the House to keep under review the question of whether any further improvements could be made to the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, along with other pieces of legislation introduced in recent years tackling organised crime, which would render them more effective.