Update: Organised Crime & Criminal Gangs, 8th July 2015

QUESTION NOS:  257, 258 & 260

DÁIL QUESTIONS  addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Bernard J. Durkan
for WRITTEN  on Tuesday, 7th July, 2015.    

 
  *  257.  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which organised crime levels remain to be monitored, with a view to specifically targeting members of organised criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                            – Bernard J. Durkan

*  258.  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department and the Garda Síochána have identified the total membership of criminal gangs operating in all parts of the country; if continued action is planned to combat them; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                            – Bernard J. Durkan

*  260.  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will indicate, in general terms, the number of criminal gangs currently known to be active; if any particular such groups are operating from outside this jurisdiction; the action taken, or proposed, to address the issue.

                                                            – Bernard J. Durkan

 
REPLY.

Tackling organised crime in all its guises is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána which is clearly reflected in the Policing Plan for 2015.

In targeting such activity An Garda Síochána continue to develop and implement strategies to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methods to facilitate targeted intelligence led operations.

Notwithstanding the challenges faced in tackling organised crime, An Garda Síochána are unrelenting in bringing those involved in this type of criminality before the courts and securing convictions.

In addition, these actions continue to lead to major drug and firearm seizures being made both through national policing operations but also through international law enforcement operations in which An Garda Siochána actively participate.

For example, during 2014 drug seizures provisionally valued in the region of €60m were made by An Garda Síochána.  This does not include other very well publicised multi-agency investigations involving An Garda Síochána which led to significant drug seizures here and abroad including, for example,  the seizure on Ireland’s south west coast last September of cocaine with an estimated street value of over €358 million.

We also continue to see the very successful targeting of crime gangs engaged in burglary crime through An Garda Siochana’s Operation Fiacla which had, at the end of April this year, already led to over 13,000 arrests and  over 7,300 charges being brought against those involved.

As the Deputy will also be aware there have been a number of very positive recent developments with regard to the overall resources available to An Garda Siochána including, for example, the recent allocation of a further €700,000 for new specialised vehicles to support Gardaí in responding to current and emerging crime threats, including those committed by highly mobile gangs.

The Deputy will appreciate that there are inherent challenges in providing accurate figures with regard to the number of such groups operating at any particular time due to the fluidity of the groups. Organised crime, by its nature,  is constantly evolving and diversifying in both its structures and activities so as to exploit opportunities for criminal gain. Furthermore many modern organised criminal groupings are transnational in nature and poly criminal in their activities.

Having said that,  organised criminal gangs are targeted on an ongoing basis and profiles regarding the personnel of such groups are continually updated. In addition, certain information with regard to the operation of such groups is disseminated at a European level through Europol.