Vol. 401 No. 2
13 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if he has had or will initiate discussions with the Ministers of Justice or Foreign Affairs of other European countries in order to determine the help the Irish Government can give to bring to justice members of the IRA and to prevent that organisation from committing further atrocities such as the shooting of Australian civilians and members of the British Army and their families.
There is very close practical co-operation between the police forces of the member states of the European Community to counter international terrorism and the Garda play their full part in this co-operation. For obvious reasons I cannot go into detail on this subject but I can inform the House that, whenever an IRA attack is made on the Continent, there is, almost invariably, contact between the Garda and their counterparts in the country concerned.
Under the Chairmanship the TREVI Group of Ministers for Justice and of the Interior of the Community met in Dublin on 14 and 15 June and received an updated analysis of the threat posed by terrorism to the Community, which included an analysis of the threat posed by the Provisional IRA. We also reviewed existing police co-operation among the Twelve to combat terrorism and organised crime, and approved a programme of action containing specific measures designed to reinforce and enhance that co-operation.
This is a much travelled question. It started off life in the Department of the Taoiseach, was transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and has ended up in the Department of Justice. Does the Minister think there is any other action the Government could take in this area in view of the fact that it is very much in our interests that these people who purport to act in our name are brought to justice and are not allowed to continue with atrocities?
I share the Deputy's concern that the people who commit these crimes in the name of the Irish people across Europe are brought to justice. We are continually in contact through TREVI with various police forces and I can assure the Deputy that the Department and the Garda co-operate to the fullest extent with other member states of the Community and the US.
It was suggested after last week's Summit that consideration should be given to the setting up of a trans-European FBI-type force to deal with such crimes. May I ask the Minister if he would consider seconding units of the Garda Síochána which have a particular knowledge of the psychology and operation methods of the Provisional IRA to police forces in other European countries, for example, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany?
It is interesting that the Deputy referred to the Netherlands because we had an immediate response from the Dutch police who expressed their appreciation of the co-operation they were getting from the Garda in relation to recent incidents which have taken place. There is no proposal before us at present for the establishment of a European FBI-type force. The TREVI group of Ministers of Justice and of the Interior of the Community are moving towards closer co-operation in all fields. This is an ongoing process. Consideration is also being given to the establishment of a drugs intelligence unit and other intelligence units so that there will be closer co-operation between police forces throughout Europe. There is always room for improvement but I can assure the Deputy that liaison is very strong and everything which can be done is being done.
I have no doubt that the reaction of the Netherlands police force is typical of the reaction of all police forces and that co-operation is being given in a very fulsome way by the Garda Síochána in trying to ensure that these people are brought to justice, but the Minister did not respond to my question Obviously he will have to get advice on whether it would be helpful to second garda who have a knowledge of the IRA and their psychology to other police forces so that further crimes can be prevented and those who commit them can be brought to justice.
The psychology, etc of this organisation is constantly under review. Consideration can be given to the secondment of a liaison officer from the Garda Síochána to other forces.
May I——
I want to bring in Deputy McCartan.
In the context of transnational co-operation and the role extradition plays in the matter, does the Minister not agree that the suggestion that other countries do not extradite their nationals on request is no argument for suggesting that this country should not engage in such practices considering that we have the most difficult problems of any European country. This is a consideration which should not be brought into play in the discussion on co-operation.
The Deputy will be aware that Irish law reflects international law, including the European Convention on Extradition and the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Ireland subscribes fully to both these Conventions and operates their provisions.
I should like to hear the Minister's view on international co-operation. Five member states of the European Community have signed the Schengen Agreement and it is anticipated that three more will accede to it shortly. Does the Minister regard that agreement as a pilot basis on which there will be general acceptance throughout the Community after 1992? Specifically, does he see Ireland joining the Schengen Agreement in the foreseeable future?
This goes far beyond the area of terrorism, it goes into asylum and other questions. The Deputy will be aware that, at the recent TREVI meeting in June, we signed a convention on asylum. We are also looking at the Schengen Agreement and I should like the Deputy to put down a separate question in relation to it when I will give a comprehensive response.
