Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans and proposals to enhance the fight against organised crime with reference to the need to protect law-abiding communities, challenge the membership and activity of criminal gangs, mobilise and adequately equip the relevant units in An Garda Síochána, arrange for any required changes in legislation and utilise the services of Europol and Interpol with a view to discouraging and disincentivising the formation and activity of criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17127/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána 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 maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies internationally and the work of Garda liaison officers who are permanently based in other jurisdictions and in international bodies such as Interpol and Europol, greatly facilitate the prompt exchange of information and intelligence on criminal activity. Such international liaison has led to many parallel investigations with international law enforcement agencies.

Having regard to more recent serious organised crime activity, a number of targeted additional measures have been announced in support of the work of An Garda Síochána.

I have just recently announced a range of measures including legislative proposals to provide additional powers to the Criminal Assets Bureau in targeting the proceeds of crime, an additional allocation of €55 million to be made available to An Garda Síochána this year in support of targeted measure and a review of our legislation to see whether there are other changes in the law which might be made to address the reality of groups intent on carrying out a sustained series of killings while endangering the safety of communities.

The Garda Commissioner has also announced the establishment of a new Garda Special Crime Task Force to augment existing responses to organised crime at a local level.

In addition, at the request of the Garda Commissioner earlier this year, funding was approved for the establishment of a dedicated Armed Support Unit (ASU) for the Dublin Metropolitan Region in order to enhanced armed support capability in Dublin and to free up the resources of the Emergency Response Unit.

These measures have been brought forward alongside the proposals announced for accelerated recruitment into An Garda Síochána.

I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime is a priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána.