Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy Niall Collins: A very serious issue which can result in young people being drawn into criminality is the sale and supply of drugs, most specifically drug-related intimidation. To tackle this, An Garda Síochána has run Operation Fógra since 2020. This operation was established in the Dublin metropolitan region to enhance the understanding of and support An Garda Síochána’s response to incidents of drug-related intimidation in the Dublin metropolitan region. The operation has two pillars - a harm-reduction, victim-centred approach and information-enabled policing, informing operational responses. The objectives of Operation Fógra are to increase front-line awareness of drug-related intimidation, enhance collaboration with community supports, improve effectiveness of the drug-related intimidation reporting programme and provide a greater analytical understanding of drug-related intimidation, driving appropriate and proactive interventions. An Garda Síochána continues to make arrests under this operation. In January of this year, as part of ongoing investigations into drug-related intimidation, gardaí from the Dublin metropolitan region north division, assisted by the district drug unit, the armed support unit and the Garda dog unit, conducted a number of searches under warrant in north County Dublin. A man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s were arrested under organised crime legislation. I commend An Garda Síochána on this work. It is important that it continues to tackle those who attempt to ensnare young people in a life of crime, either through grooming or intimidation.

With regard to tackling the sale and supply of drugs more broadly, An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country. The focus of An Garda Síochána is on disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks that impact our communities, and prosecuting those involved at every level, through Operation Tara. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. Under Operation Tara, individuals and groups involved in the drug trade will be the target of enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest crime trends. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, GNDOCB, leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. The unit was established in 2015. Since then, the unit has seized €627 million in illicit drugs, 171 firearms and 6,586 rounds of ammunition and made 1,722 arrests. Again, I commend An Garda Síochána on this work. The more it does to disempower those who entrap young people in crime, the better. The Garda Commissioner has stated that he will continue to target those who import and supply drugs. I am sure that is something we all welcome and can recognise the positive impact it will have on the lives of young people across the country.

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