Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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22. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to report on the work of the Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction. [36398/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction was established as a Government measure to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs. It comprises members of Revenue's Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and the Naval Service, assisted by the Air Corps and the Army as required. The Defence Forces act in an Aid to the Civil Power capacity, upon request from Revenue and An Garda Síochána.

The Joint Task Force has proven to be a very successful model for disrupting the smuggling of drugs on the high seas into Ireland, and beyond. While a number of drug interdiction operations have received significant media attention, the Deputy will appreciate that for operational and security reasons it is not appropriate to comment on any specifics of the work of the Joint Task Force.

Overall responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners, while responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána.