Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2017
120. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement he has had with his counterpart in the United Kingdom, including the devolved administrations of Scotland and Wales, over the past six months. [49723/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement he has had with his counterpart in France in the past six months. [49724/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement he has had with his counterpart in Germany in the past six months. [49725/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement he has had with his counterpart in the United States of America in the past six months. [49726/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 123, inclusive, together.
I have regular formal and informal engagement with my EU counterparts, including the relevant French, German and UK Ministers, at meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of Ministers. In this regard, I attended the most recent meetings on 14 September 2017 and 12 October 2017, and plan to attend the next meeting on 7 December 2017.
I can also inform the Deputy that I met with the UK Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, Justice Secretary, David Lidington MP and James Brokenshire MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in London on 11 October 2017 where we discussed the close co-operation between Ireland and the UK on criminal and civil justice, immigration and security issues. I had previously met with Secretary of State Brokenshire in Dublin on 22 August 2017.
There is also ongoing contact on EU Justice and Home Affairs matters, and on other issues of mutual interest, between my officials and EU Embassies in Dublin, and through Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU.
Since my appointment, I have not had the opportunity to meet with my US counterparts, the US Attorney General and the US Homeland Security Secretary. I have, however, met with Mr Reece Smyth, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy, on 22 June 2017 and 2 November 2017. We have had the opportunity to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest, including international co-operation in combatting terrorism and radicalisation, cybersecurity and the UK’s planned exit from the EU.
Officials in my Department maintain contact with the Embassy and with their US counterparts on an ongoing basis across a range of relevant areas of mutual interest in the justice field.
