90.— (1) This section applies to a request to the Competent Authority in the State from a competent authority in a designated state to permit—

(a) a controlled delivery to be made in the State, and

(b) specified persons, or persons of a specified description, from the designated state to participate in the operations connected with the controlled delivery.

(2) The request shall include particulars of the offence with which the controlled delivery is concerned.

(3) The Competent Authority in the State may grant the request if satisfied that—

(a) the controlled delivery is being made for the purposes of an investigation into an offence, or

(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that it is in the public interest, having regard to the benefit likely to accrue to the investigation, to permit the delivery to take place.

(4) The operations related to a controlled delivery shall, if the delivery is concerned with the illegal importation of controlled drugs, be regulated in accordance with—

(a) the Memorandum of Understanding of 12 January 1996 concerning the relationship between the Customs and Excise Service of the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda Síochána with respect to Drugs Law Enforcement and agreed between the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, and

(b) the Operational Protocol for co-operation between An Garda Síochána, the Customs and Excise and the Naval Service in relation to Drugs Law Enforcement,

including any modifications or extensions of the Memorandum or Protocol for the time being in force.

(5) If the delivery is concerned with a revenue offence (other than an offence constituted by the illegal importation of controlled drugs), the operations shall be under the direction and control of the officers of customs and excise assigned to the delivery.

(6) If the delivery is concerned with any other offence, the operations shall be under the direction and control of the members of the Garda Síochána so assigned.

(7) A member of the Garda Síochána or officer of customs and excise participating in operations connected with a controlled delivery in the State may, at the request of a person from a designated state so participating, take such action as may be open to the member or officer in furtherance of the operations.

(8) Copies of the Memorandum of Understanding and Operational Protocol have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.