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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1954

Vol. 144 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extradition Procedure.

asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the fundamental provisions of the Constitution, he will consider the introduction of proposals for legislation specifically repealing the statutory or other law under which citizens of this State arrested in Ireland are transferred in custody to Great Britain; if he will state whether such transfers have included children; and, if so, what steps are taken to safeguard such children during their journey to Great Britain and their stay abroad.

Mr. Boland

The reciprocal enforcement of warrants as between this country and Britain is regulated by statutory provisions which have the force of law in both countries and have been specifically held by the Irish courts not to be inconsistent with the Constitution. Whether some other arrangement might not be better is, of course, a matter of opinion, but I think we should be very slow to upset an arrangement which has stood the test of time and has given so little cause for complaint over so long a period.

With regard to the last part of the question, I know of only two cases in which children or young persons were involved and in each case the persons concerned were treated with the greatest possible consideration by the police and judicial authorities in Britain where, as is well known, there are excellent arrangements for safeguarding the interests of juvenile offenders at all stages from arrest onwards.

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