Vol. 523 No. 4
213 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if arrangements have been discussed with the British Government, in the context of the Schengen Agreement, on the question of allowing members of the RUC to enter this jurisdiction on hot pursuit to apprehend suspected criminals; if he is positively disposed to such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21317/00]
The Schengen Agreement, now integrated into the legal framework of the EU by the Treaty of Amsterdam, provides that, as a compensatory measure for the abolition of passport controls between participating states, "hot pursuit" by police forces pursuing suspects in criminal cases can take place.
The Government has decided not to apply to participate in these provisions in any application to participate in the Schengen arrangements and this decision has been communicated to the other member states and to the European Commission.
