Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

By way of concluding remarks, unless there are further interventions, I point out that the purpose of the proposal is to assist member states of the European Union to intensify co-operation on a cross-border basis. This is done to ensure that we are prepared for terrorist attacks, engaged at a high level in the prevention of such and prepared for investigations of organised crime terrorist attacks while ensuring our people are protected.

I am very keen to do this at the earliest opportunity so that our voice is heard at the table and we have our voting rights under Article 3. This is all about co-operation and ensuring we can benefit from the European architecture for information that is available. This is a fund the EU is making available to member states and Ireland can be a beneficiary of this fund. Having regard to the pressures on the public finances, particularly in the area of justice and home affairs, I would have thought this would be seen as a welcome development by this committee. I am very keen for Ireland's voice to be heard at the table at the earliest opportunity and for gardaí to be able to sit down with the European Commission and work on the various programmes that are involved. We will keep the committee involved, as far as we can, as to the nature and roll-out of these programmes, all of which have the objective of protecting our citizens.