Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action, if any, that can be taken to curtail the activities of criminal gangs and their associates; given the degree to which the persons involved are known to the authorities, whether such organisations are illegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14275/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action that can be taken to prevent the setting up of criminal gangs whether by legislation or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14277/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 464 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that membership of organised crime gangs tends to be fluid and offences committed by members of criminal gangs may or may not be connected with an individual's membership of such gangs.

The Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2012 sets out the continued commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities.

An Garda Síochána undertakes a range of activities designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of criminal organisations. This involves targeting serious criminals and organised criminal groups on a number of fronts, including through the use of focused intelligence led operations by specialist units such as the Organised Crime Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

In addition, An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement strategies targeting criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methods to facilitate targeted operations to enable early intervention and prevention of organised crime.

The Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, which entered into force on 23 July 2009, introduced a number of provisions which strengthened the law dealing with organised crime, in particular, with regard to participation in organised crime and directing a criminal organisation.

Since the enactment of that legislation on 23 July 2009, up to 31 January 2012, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the provisions of the Act have been used on 160 occasions where arrests have been made relating to organised crime.

In the same period, eight individuals have been charged under the legislation, six under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as inserted by section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (participating in organised crime) and two 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). Furthermore, there have now been two convictions with regard to the offence of participation in organised crime.

As I have previously indicated to the House, I will 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.

Where there is an identified requirement for additional legislative provisions to further enhance existing provisions tackling organised crime, I will not hesitate in bringing forward proposals.