Vol. 433 No. 2
56 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice the reason Ireland has not joined the Schengen Process to co-operate with our Community partners in defeating terrorism and serious crime such as drugs trafficking and money laundering; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Co-operation in the areas of police, drugs, immigration and judicial matters has been taking place between all of the member states of the EC for many years on an intergovernmental basis outside the framework of the European Treaties. Title VI of the Treaty on European Union provides a new framework for co-operation in these areas which will largely replace the existing arrangements.
A number of member states are also parties to the Schengen Agreement which is primarily concerned with the abolition of checks at their common borders on the movement of persons and the facilitation of the transport and movement of goods. The Agreement has not been ratified by all of the parties concerned and the provisions of the Agreement are not being implemented therefore as of yet. There are no proposals at this time for Ireland, which does not of course have a common land border with any of the Schengen countries, to accede to the Agreement. Any such proposals would require a considered examination and, if it were decided to proceed, a detailed negotiation process would also be involved.
