Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The Europol Joint Supervisory Body has some concerns about this in terms of data protection. It argues that the existing data protection system within Europol is very strong and it believes what is proposed in the regulation is weaker than what is already in place. The definition of the types of crimes Europol can examine has changed to a more broader definition. The concern would be that we have regular data protection in Ireland but can we ensure that whatever information we pass on to Europol with regard to Irish citizens is protected? It greatly concerns me that this supervisory body, whose function is to examine all of this, has its own concerns.

Apart from criticisms the body has a number of practical proposals. It speaks about the need for joint supervision of this entire area, including the national data protection agencies. It does not support the idea of the Commission making the European data protection service solely responsible for the supervision of Europol; it believes there must be joint supervision. On the basis of its criticism and also of advice from my colleagues in the European Parliament, our party could not support the current proposal and we will push for a vote on it tomorrow unless the Minister can convince us otherwise.