Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances in which viable explosive devices have been found in each of the past five years to date; if the number of instances represent a particular threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54809/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of viable improvised explosive devices (I.E.D.) found over the last five years is as set out in the table below.

The Gardaí are committed to eradicating this particular form of criminality and An Garda Síochána’s Policing Plan 2012 sets out its commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in serious and organised crime, including those involved with improvised explosive devices. There are substantial Garda operations in place to tackle this problem with strategies very firmly focused on disrupting the use of pipe bombs and bringing those involved before the Courts. In particular, Operation Enchant was established in April 2011 to provide national coordination for investigations into the manufacture, supply and deployment of I.E.D.

In April 2012, Operation Enchant was expanded to incorporate a co-ordination unit comprising personnel from the Special Detective Unit, Organised Crime Unit and Garda National Drugs Unit. The co-ordination unit works closely with each Senior Investigating Officer in relation to each I.E.D. incident and also with the Garda Technical Bureau which has responsibility for identifying commonalities between each I.E.D. found in the jurisdiction. The Unit also works closely with the Garda Analysis Service and the National Criminal Intelligence Unit amongst others and assists local investigators in their investigations including, where appropriate, interviewing arrested persons and conducting searches.