Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána will return to a surviving spouse a sum of money which was recovered from a deceased person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9427/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the day to day operation of An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I understand from the Garda authorities, however, that the sum of money in question was retained and recorded by An Garda Síochána for safe keeping and is the subject of ongoing contact between An Garda Síochána and a legal representative acting on behalf of a member of the family of the deceased.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the most appropriate steps to combat the activities of criminal gangs, including making it an offence to be a member of a criminal gang; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9432/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána.

An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in this regard including its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities.

In tackling such activity, An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement operations and strategies aimed at targeting, dismantling and disrupting criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. Multi-disciplinary approaches are also utilised to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, including through the use of the proceeds of crimes legislation, money-laundering legislation, and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

An Garda Síochána also liaise closely with their international partners in identifying emerging crime trends and in encouraging international police cooperation in the fight against organised crime. An Garda Síóchána also participate in training through the international law enforcement agencies including CEPOL, Interpol and Europol.

While we should not underestimate the difficulties which the Garda authorities face in tackling organised crime activity, we continue to see the significant results of their efforts in the arrests made and persons being brought before the Courts, as well as the ongoing drugs and firearms seizures made.

I have assured An Garda Síochána that they have the full support of the Government in their efforts to disrupt gang-related crime. As I have outlined to the House today the Programme for a Partnership Government prioritises a significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána.

With regard to the question of providing for an offence of membership of a criminal gang, in a manner similar to the approach taken in the Offences Against the State Acts with regard to membership of a proscribed organisation, it is important to understand the issues which arise in seeking to simply outlaw membership of a criminal gang in such a manner. Most significant is the fact that a criminal gang is not likely to have the permanency of organisation and structure that a subversive organisation or other more fixed group would have.

As I have indicated previously, criminal legislation has been updated in recent years, most notably by way of Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, with a view to ensuring that it provides a comprehensive range of provisions for the prosecution and punishment of organised crime, taking due account of the international agreements to which Ireland is a party.