13. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the Drugs Related Intimidation Reporting Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60618/22]

Minister of State at the Department of Justice: The Government is acutely aware of the substantial and ongoing damage that drug dealing and drug-related intimidation has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety.

An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs including through Operation Tara which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland.

The focus of this Operation is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local street level dealing and sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure of over €210,000 worth of cocaine  in Limerick on 21 November and over €92,000 worth of cocaine in Dublin 11 on 27 November. 

Intimidation, drug-related or otherwise, has no place in Irish society and will be dealt with by An Garda Síochána with the seriousness it deserves.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently thirty nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.

Information in relation to the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and a list of the nominated Inspectors countrywide is available on the Garda website. This programme has been developed to respond to the needs of drug users and family members experiencing drug-related intimidation. An Garda Síochána will treat any complaint of intimidation with sensitivity and will afford the person or family subject to the threat the best level of security, advice and support which can be offered. 

Finally, I would encourage anyone who is themselves or who knows of a family member who is being subjected to drug-related intimidation to go to An Garda Síochána.  It is only by reporting intimidation to An Garda Síochána that we can deal effectively with this scourge on society.