A major crackdown on organised crime was described by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell as "one of the most intensive special policing operations" undertaken by the State.
Announcing "Operation Anvil", the Minister said that it would be intelligence-driven and aimed at those involved in gun crime of any kind in the Dublin metropolitan region.
"The operation will be focused, sustained, targeted and relentless."
The cost, he said, would be €6.5 million, which he had made available from his department's allocation for this year, in addition to other allocations to the Garda.
"It will involve about 15,000 additional hours overtime being worked each week by gardaí in the Dublin area. This expenditure will not adversely affect existing agreed overtime allocations across Garda divisions, including those for the Dublin metropolitan division." One feature of the gun culture was the apparent belief on the part of some criminals that they were not bound by or subject to the laws of the land.
"Nobody is above the law and, likewise, nobody is beneath the protection of the law. 'Operation Anvil' is intended to supplement existing operations to ensure that lawlessness does not prevail, that the threat posed by these criminals is met sternly and effectively and, above all else, human life is respected."
The Minister also said that he was considering several amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, including a proposal to provide for criminal offences for participating in a criminal organisation.
He would also provide for the secure custody of firearms, minimum sentences and new offences for modifying a firearm, such as the sawing of a shotgun barrel.
Severe penalties would be introduced for the possession of sawn-off shotguns and the modification of shotguns.
Mr McDowell said that while it would be counterproductive for him to give precise details of "Operation Anvil", there would be divisional uniform and detective patrols throughout the region, backed up by national units, overt and covert operations, mobile and foot patrols, random checkpoints, extensive searches, execution of warrants and gathering and collation of high quality criminal intelligence.
The Garda Commissioner, he added, was adamant that this would not be done by sucking in those involved in community policing, depriving that area of the necessary manpower.
Fine Gael spokesman Jim O'Keeffe said that at long last the Minister had stirred himself. Asking if they were clear on the extent of the gun-crime problem, he said the rate of crimes involving guns was unprecedented, with a minimum of one murder a week and robberies of ATMs and cash in transit, with large amounts of money being taken out of the system by criminals.
He suggested that the Minister also consider introducing legislation on hostage-taking, setting it out as a separate offence.
Mr McDowell said that perhaps a case could be made for a minimum sentence where a threat was made to the life of an individual.
"Almost anything, even putting someone in a cupboard, can be false imprisonment, but when someone's life is threatened for the purpose of committing another felony, there may be a case for a minimum sentence."
Labour justice spokesman Joe Costello asked what the Minister was going to do about the enormous number of weapons available in the State.
"The Minister indicated that some of these are paramilitary weapons, some are smuggled weapons while others are stolen. Having that knowledge is not good enough."
When Mr Costello suggested that that they were back to square one in dealing with organised crime, Mr McDowell said this was not so. There had been a significant improvement in the situation arising from "Operation Crossover", he added.
