Nora Owen
Ceist:882 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on reports that members of Osama bin Laden's group reside here. [21514/01]
Written Answers. - Crime Prevention.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 92, 93 and 95 of today's date. These questions arise in the aftermath of the evil attacks on the people of the United States. This House has already made clear its abhorrence of what occurred. I am grateful to the Deputies who tabled these questions to have the opportunity to outline subsequent developments in so far as my areas of responsibility are concerned.
The threat of major terrorist attacks in this jurisdiction is the subject of continual analysis and assessment by both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. In so far as the Garda
Síochána is concerned, it maintains and fosters mutual assistance and co-operation with police forces and security services world-wide to ensure an effective flow of intelligence relevant to the task. A heightened state of security awareness is in effect at vital strategic locations following on from the tragic events of 11 September. It would, however, as the Deputies will appreciate, be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of such security arrangements.
The Garda for a number of years has maintained surveillance on a number of non-nationals whose activities were considered to warrant it. The surveillance will, of course, continue but the House, again, will appreciate that I could not appropriately say anything further about this matter. In so far as the current world wide investigations into the recent atrocities in the United States are concerned, the Garda is assisting in the investigations and it would not be prudent to comment on specific aspects of them at this time.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council met on Thursday, 20 September 2001 to take the necessary measures to maintain the highest level of security and any other measure needed to combat terrorism. The council decided to harness all the measures already adopted at European Union level, in particular: the 1995 and 1996 conventions on extradition between the member states; the setting up of Europol and Pro-Eurojust; the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of 29 May 2000; and the setting up of the EU police chiefs task force. Notwithstanding these measures, the seriousness of recent events has led to the speeding up of the process of creating an area of freedom, security and justice and to the stepping up of co-operation with partners, especially the United States.
To this end, the council adopted a number of measures to step up the fight against terrorism within the European Union and to improve co-operation with the United States. There are more than 40 such measures and I will mention some of the principal ones: the thorough examination of two Commission proposals for framework decisions, one on the approximation of member states' criminal laws with a view to establishing a common definition of a terrorist act and laying down common criminal sanctions, the other on the creation of a European arrest warrant; the early ratification of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters between member states of the European Union; Pro-Eurojust to bring together member states' magistrates specialising in counter-terrorism to examine the co-ordination of terrorism investigations; the police chiefs task force to discuss improved operational co-operation between member states and third countries and to co-ordinate measures implemented in member states to guarantee security, including in the field of air safety; Europol to analyse and report on the terrorist threat; the early ratification by member states of the relevant conventions to prevent and combat the financing of terrorism; the strengthening of border controls; and increased co-operation and closer consultations with the United States in all competent international fora and especially a more active role for the Union within the United Nations.
In a separate but closely related development, the Security Council of the United Nations has adopted a wide-ranging, comprehensive resolution obliging member states to take steps and implement strategies to combat international terrorism, especially in relation to the financing or support of terrorism. Some of the measures raise difficult and complex issues and will require careful, albeit urgent, scrutiny. Examination of the various proposals has commenced both here at home and in the EU institutions. As regards one of the measures, the early ratification by member states of the relevant conventions to prevent and combat the financing of terrorism, the Government yesterday approved the signature by Ireland of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. A number of the proposals will inevitably require legislation and as soon as the measures are finalised I will bring proposals to Government. I should also inform the House that in addition to measures arising at an international level I am also reviewing our domestic law to see whether any changes may be necessary in the light of the events which have taken place. While the Garda Síochána has a role to play in dealing with national emergencies, the issue of facilities and equipment to cope with chemical or biological attacks is a matter for a number of agencies. At present, the issue of guidelines for emergency services in dealing with the threat of attacks using chemical or biological agents is being addressed by an interdepartmental committee under the co-ordination of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. The shocking events of 11 September clearly require an urgent, comprehensive and measured response. In so far as my areas of responsibility are concerned, I hope that I have been able to demonstrate to the House that that response is well under way.