Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The European arrest warrant is of real benefit to every European state, including Ireland, in that it facilitates the transfer of people charged with very serious crimes, organised crime and terrorism from one European state to another with relative ease with all of the human rights protections in the context of court proceedings. There has been a difficulty whereby some member states allegedly - and I deliberately use the word "allegedly" - seek to have the nationals of other member states extradited back to them for minor charges. This is an issue being examined at European Commission level and is an issue I have discussed with Commissioner Reding. It has not been a major problem for this country. I know the UK has been particularly focused on two or three people whom the Polish authorities sought to have returned from England to Poland for minor traffic offences. At the end of the day, the European arrest warrant is about ensuring we have in Europe law and order and freedom and security for individual citizens to go about their business. If someone is charged with a criminal offence in another member state we have a mechanism which ensures he or she attends the courts and face up to his or her responsibilities. I do not want to comment on the individual French case the Deputy mentioned and I am sure he understands my reasons for this.