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

Essentially, the instrument strengthens the obligations of member states to provide information to Europol. This is done by setting clear legal rules and focusing the member states' supply of information on areas which I would describe as constituting EU priorities in the fight against crime. There is minor crime where one will not be exchanging data.

The regulation also gives incentives to member states to share information by providing targeted financial support for cross-border investigations. There is also yearly reporting by Europol to EU institutions on the quantity and quality of data information exchange. Deputy McGrath made a very reasonable point. If a member state is not co-operating and is not providing information, there will be fairly rapid transparency regarding that in the context of the reports that will be published on a yearly basis and which will be furnished to the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. A member state that does not co-operate will find itself in difficulties in the context of the intent of the provision. It is important that relevant information is available, exchanged and utilised. At the end of the day, what is this really about? It is about protecting our citizens from those engaged in serious criminality and from individuals who pose a risk to life, protecting the citizens of this State and where we have information, our police force assisting in protecting other European citizens in other member states.