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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 1

Written Answers. - Extradition Arrangements.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

260 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice whether Ireland has adequate extradition arrangements as between other European member states in relation to non-political or terrorist offences; the number of persons who have been extradited by the State from other European member states in relation to drug trafficking in each of the past three years; whether any applications were made to extradite such persons for drug trafficking offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18623/96]

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 252 and 287 on 2 July 1996 in regard to extradition arrangements between EU member states and the measures being taken at EU level to enhance those arrangements. The Convention referred to in the final paragraph of that reply was adopted at the Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council in Dublin on 27 September 1996. That Convention provides, inter alia, for a limited relaxation of the dual criminality rule, the further restriction of the political offence exemption, provision for extradition of own nationals, a limited relaxation of the rule of speciality and the abolition of the revenue offence exemption. Legislation will have to be enacted at national level to give effect to that Convention, to the 1995 EU Convention on Simplified Extradition Procedures and to an Agreement between the EU member states on the Simplification and Modernisation of Methods of Transmitting Extradition Requests which Ireland has yet to sign.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the years 1993 to 1995, inclusive, six requests were made by Ireland to EU member states for the extradition of persons wanted in connection with drug trafficking offences, three in 1993, two in 1994 and one in 1995. One of the six persons comprehended by those requests returned voluntarily and three others were extradited to this jurisdiction, two in 1993 and one in 1994. The remaining two cases are still current.

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