Deputy Derek Keating
I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who is
unable to be present here today due to other business.
The Minister wishes to thank the Deputy for raising this matter.
Tackling the issue of drug misuse in our society remains one of the most
complex challenges that we face.
Our national response to the problem is set out in the National Drugs
Strategy for the period 2009-2016. The Strategy provides a co-ordinated and
comprehensive response to the drugs problem and is very much founded on a
partnership approach.
The roles of the Minister’s Department and An Garda Síochána under the
Strategy are primarily, although not solely, concerned with the drug supply
pillar. Our drugs law enforcement response in targeting those involved in
drug trafficking remains a fundamental feature of our overall approach and
continues to be a key priority area.
This is very much reflected in An Garda Síochána’s Policing Plan for 2013
which highlights a strong focus in combating serious crime in all its
forms, in particular organised crime and its close links with drug
trafficking.
Work in this area is led out by the Garda National Drugs Unit which, in
working with dedicated Drug Units across the country and other national
units, including the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau,
target those involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs.
The specific strategies put in place by An Garda Síochána, to address the
sale, supply, importation and distribution of illegal drugs include the
establishment of targeted intelligence led operations focused on specific
facets of the drugs trade. A further feature of the Garda response is the
continued and close co-operation with the Revenue Commissioners (Customs
Service) and with other national drug law enforcement agencies, such as the
Irish Medicines Board in tackling drug supply.
The Minister wishes to assure the House that this approach is yielding
significant results. An Garda Síochána advise that drug seizures for 2012
are valued at approximately €115m, with seizures totalling an estimated
€20m also being recorded for the first quarter of 2013.
In addition, we have also seen some very significant drugs seizures and
related arrests being made by the Garda authorities this month including,
for example, a major heroin seizure with an estimated value of €750,000
made in Virginia, Co Cavan. There have also been ongoing large scale
cannabis seizures achieved in recent days and weeks through targeted
operations, some of which are ongoing, conducted in the Kells, Tuam,
Ballyvourney and Lucan areas.
The Minister would like me, on his behalf, this evening to publicly
acknowledge and to commend our law enforcement agencies for continuing to
achieve such results. These seizures are, in effect, preventing
considerable volumes of drugs from ending up for sale in our communities,
drugs which invariably bring with them a wide range of associated
destructive consequences.
The Minister also advises that such law enforcement measures are, in
practice subject to ongoing review. The illicit drugs market is a dynamic
phenomenon which is constantly adjusting to market influences including
drug availability, consumer preferences etc. New trends emerge from time to
time, with users often trying different combinations of drugs, which
sometimes involve the mixing of legal and illegal drugs, as well as various
modes of consumption.
In meeting the challenge posed by the changing drugs landscape, our
legislative controls and law enforcement approach remain under continuous
review to achieve optimum results. The State’s comprehensive response to
the recent headshop phenomenon is a case in point.
The emergence in recent times of large scale cannabis cultivation sites in
the State, a previously unseen phenomenon in the drug supply environment in
this jurisdiction, has similarly seen a very determined response by An
Garda Síochána. Operation Nitrogen, which is an intelligence led Garda
Síochána operation targeting cannabis cultivation, continues to be very
successful in identifying and dismantling cannabis cultivation sites across
all areas of the country.
Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement
co-operation remains a key element of the overall response. An Garda
Síochána has strong and strategic partnerships in place at international
level targeting drug trafficking. An Garda Síochána work closely with
relevant law enforcement agencies such as Interpol and Europol in
monitoring and responding to the illicit drugs market. In addition An Garda
Síochána participates in the work of the Maritime Analysis Operations
Centre for Narcotics based in Lisbon.
Those involved in our drug law enforcement efforts fully appreciate that
the nature and scale of drug trafficking is such that we must constantly be
vigilant to emerging trends and adjust our responses accordingly.
In concluding, the Minister would like to assure the House of the continued
commitment of An Garda Síochána, in cooperation with law enforcement
colleagues, to tackling the illegal trade in drugs and that they can be
assured of the full support of the Government in this regard.
ENDS