Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline Government plans to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug dealing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26449/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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What are the Minister's plans to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug dealing? Could she make a statement on the matter? An all-of-government response is required but it is not an overplay to say this is a huge issue that is having an impact right across society. It is particularly difficult where it results in drug deaths and intimidation, particularly in working-class areas.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He has done so consistently, particularly in his own area. He has also raised the need for us all to do more and actively deal with the threat posed to our communities, particularly young people, by organised crime groups and those who are buying, dealing and engaging with drug dealers.

The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that the Garda has the resources it needs to tackle drug dealing and associated criminal behaviour, including by organised crime groups. The funding made available to An Garda Síochána has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime. These include the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Collaboration at interagency and international levels remains key in tackling this issue. This problem is not just within our own borders; it is also transnational. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in the overall response. An Garda Síochána has strong and very strategic partnerships in place at international level targeting drug trafficking, including working closely with agencies such as Interpol and Europol and participating in the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics, which is based in Lisbon.

An example of the result of co-operation with the team in Lisbon and others was the seizure of 546 kg of a synthetic drug, with an estimated value of €32.8 million, by the Garda, working with Revenue officers, in Cork port in February. There was extensive engagement with international partners.

At a local level, An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara. Recent successes of Operation Tara in my area and that of the Deputy include the seizure of cannabis plants and cannabis herb with an estimated value of €768,000 across two separate raids in County Louth only recently, on 20 May.

I am investing record amounts into An Garda Síochána to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara, and of course we will do more.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It goes without saying that I doubt that anyone is going to stand up here and not support what have been some of the major seizures and operations against organised crime. Whether these operations are local or transnational, we want to see more – quicker, better and faster. There is nobody who does not want to see this. The problem, however, is the huge drugs problem that exists. I get that it would be a lot easier if, on the average Friday or Saturday night, so many people were not willing to buy cocaine. Part of the issue is that a large number of people have accepted the taking of drugs and seem to be at a remove from recognising its impact in the form of giving money to the worst elements of society, who then visit absolute disaster upon communities.

I get that we need to ensure we have addiction services but we really need to get the policing part right while we consider something more novel. Obviously, we have had the citizens' assembly and its outworkings.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I agree. To reduce supply, we need to ensure we are working on an international basis and stopping the large shipments. What is clear is that the drugs seized are the tip of the iceberg, but obviously the more work the Garda can do, the more we will be seen as a country into which it is not easy to bring this level of drugs.

There is work that can be done on a lower level by An Garda Síochána. I am referring to the work across the Criminal Assets Bureau. I will be tabling amendments to make it easier for gardaí to seize. Looking at the lower level, we have a situation now where citizens can actively engage with the Criminal Assets Bureau. Representatives in local Garda Stations are also actively working on the ground to spot the signs of more low-level activity by a dealer who is involved in the community. Linked very closely to that is the involvement of young people in drug running, debt and intimidation. That is why the legislation to criminalise the grooming of children, which was passed only recently, is so important. To that date, we had not actually recognised the impact it was having on children, as well as the crimes that had been committed.

It is important when we speak about different ways in which we can do things that we mention the Greentown project, which looks at young people, their families, the situations they are in and how we can break the links to get young people out of those situations so that the cycle is broken. That is working really well, and we have extended it because of that, but we want to see more of those types of programmes.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister has dealt with my first two points. Obviously, we need to see greater use of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. Locally, I have seen how it does fabulous work. It also means communities can see that action is being taken and we also need to see policing operations. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a large number of street drug dealers, and there is also the fact that the courts can be backlogged. This means it can be a considerable amount of time before somebody is actually processed and that lesson has not been learned fast enough. We need to do everything we can regarding the Greentown project to remove people from criminality. We also know there is a huge number of chaotic families and, at times, useful idiots, who can be used by predatory drug dealers. We need to give greater powers to councils. We need to make sure Tusla and everyone else is involved in the actions that can be taken. There is a major issue with dangerous organised criminals. Huge issues are also caused by chaotic people who get caught up in this and who cause serious harm to their communities. I have spoken before about how we need to support the likes of the Family Addiction Support Network and others in Dundalk, which are doing great work.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Before the Minister comes back in I will call on Deputy Durkan.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I strongly agree with the sentiments that were expressed by the Minister and the last speaker. I congratulate An Garda Síochána for its successes in this area. However, for every success, there is growing evidence of an extension of the drugs empire all over the place. It is the drugs empire that is feeding its own market in a way that ensures it has a steady income from that area. It has established fear among the community and the school children. Almost all second-level schools are affected by this problem now, as are some primary schools. I congratulate An Garda Síochána on its work to date, but I believe that a new initiative is required and that should involve a rapid follow-up when evidence comes in that somebody is using an area, house or locality as a drug promotional centre.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most important thing is that people know that crime does not pay, whether you are a drug dealer or involved in any type of crime. That is why the work of CAB is so important. Some of my changes will make it easier and quicker for CAB to confiscate, identify and disburse the proceeds of the crime it has confiscated. It will also help to prevent criminals from frustrating the system, which they so often do.

The community safety innovation fund is now taking money that has been directly seized from criminals and is putting it back into communities. Some of the programmes we see - this relates to both of Deputies Ó Murchú and Durkan’s points - look at new and innovative ways through which we can support people within communities, for example, in the areas of addiction, young people, and through providing alternatives or different options. I can see that through some of the programmes and projects that have already been delivered and developed through the community safety innovation fund.

One specific focus of the Greentown project is to look at families of young people who may be targeted because they do not and cannot get the supports from the families, because they cannot do that themselves. It is a matter of how we take them out of that situation and support the families, as well as the people who are being dragged into a life of crime. There are so many different layers to it. We need to invest in all of those layers and it is something to which we are all committed. Certainly, An Garda Síochána is committed to playing its part as well.