Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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7. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures she is taking to ensure that An Garda Síochána has sufficient resources to stop gang-related murders and crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10012/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I made comments regarding this in reply to an earlier question.

The Programme for a Partnership Government prioritises a significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána. I will not repeat all that I stated already but I will highlight again the recruitment and investment in resources, for instance, in ICT, that is now possible. At the end of last year, funding was made available, for example, to improve the PULSE so that it is more effective in terms of the management of criminal investigations, and a number of other initiatives were also taken in that area.

The 2016 budget for An Garda Síochána saw an increase to €1.6 billion. That involved €67 million in additional funding. As I stated earlier, we also moved decisively with increased funding to deal directly with gang-related crime, particularly in the Dublin area, and for the dedicated armed support unit as well. That involves concentrated policing measures in the area. A considerable effort is being made by the Garda to target and do the kind of work necessary to interrupt the cycle of violence that we have seen.

I mentioned the investment in the capital plan.

There is also the airborne surveillance, and money has been made available to ensure we have technical support for the helicopter so it can be used at night. All these initiatives, with the determination of the men and women of the Garda Síochána who are out patrolling the streets will, I hope, end this dreadful cycle. Although last year the gangland crime and murder figures decreased very considerably, we have had a new cycle with six murders by gangs which are intent on revenge. Every resource that is needed by the Garda Síochána will be made available to deal effectively with this gangland crime.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Minister and the Garda Commissioner recently met community leaders from the inner city. Tonight there is to be a peace procession in an area of our capital city which is traumatised by the series of assassinations during recent months and by a perceived failure on the part of the Minister's Department to give the Garda Síochána the requisite resources to stamp it out and bring it to a close. In an earlier question, the Minister mentioned the additional gardaí and capital resources. During the Administrations of the Minister and her predecessor, former Deputy Shatter, did units such as the national surveillance unit have adequate resources to keep tabs on the kind of gangland crime and organisation which led to the current desperate spate of murders? The Minister mentioned the armed support unit. Do the specialist units have the resources necessary?

Do we need further legislation? The Criminal Justice Act 2009 tried to target directors of crime and gangland mafia leaders. Does the Minister need to introduce more legislation, particularly regarding the proliferation of guns and gun-related crime?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I reject the Deputy's analysis of resources. If anything, the previous Government has been keenly aware of the need to invest resources, as they became available, in the Garda Síochána. During the period of economic difficulty, investment in the Garda Síochána was stopped for a period and this has had an effect. The figures available on gangland crime suggest the Garda Síochána was effective. There is a feud between criminal gangs intent on retaliation and with the very best policing in the world it can be very difficult to interrupt such a cycle. However, the Garda Síochána interrupted it in Limerick, where 24 out of 25 murders were solved, with major effort by the Garda Síochána and the local community and support from the Government. The same motivation is there in me as Minister, the Government and the local community, as I saw yesterday, to do everything possible to support people who live in those communities and to interrupt the feud and bring people to justice. These people are not outside the law. The law is strong enough. The Criminal Assets Bureau will also continue its work to target the proceeds of crime.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Our rural colleagues have been speaking about the extensive closures of Garda stations. Do some of the Dublin Garda stations need to reopen? The former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Christy Burke, made the point about Fitzgibbon Street Garda station and asked whether a 24-7 presence was necessary there. Regarding the direction of gangland crime from outside this jurisdiction, what steps has the Minister taken regarding liaising with the Spanish minister for justice and national police force under the European arrest warrant legislation? What kind of actions is she taking to strike at the alleged external directors of savagery on our streets?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This type of crime has an international dimension.

There is very detailed exchange of information with police colleagues in various countries, including Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. A number of high-profile criminal trials have taken place in those countries. Prison sentences have been served by Irish criminals who have been charged in those jurisdictions. I assure the Deputy that this intensive level of co-operation is ongoing. There is no question about that. We need gardaí working at an intelligence level on investigations, patrolling the streets and providing as much safety as they possibly can in the face of the huge challenges that these gangs are presenting to ordinary law-abiding citizens. We saw gangs acting with impunity in the Regency Hotel. Every effort will be made in the weeks and months ahead on the prevention, investigation and prosecution levels.