Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

If Deputy Jim O'Keeffe has finished his contribution, which sounds like a broken record, I will continue.

I accept there are safeguards in section 9, which I welcome. The purpose of my proposal is to explain at an early stage of the Bill exactly what safeguards are available on recourse to the High Court. I welcome what the Minister said regarding the safeguards contained in the European Union extradition Acts and the European Arrest Warrant Act. Despite our arguing this issue when we debated this matter here previously, I did not believe we had gone far enough in respect of the provision of safeguards. There will always be people who will want to row back from ensuring protections on human rights. That we are ahead of the posse in terms of some of our European neighbours in this context, points to there being different standards not only throughout the European Union but throughout the world in terms of the legal process, due process and the conditions of detentions. That is the reason we have continuously sought here to ensure that we have the highest possible standards in this regard. Even though we might have a high standard in terms of the European Arrest Warrant Act — it is not as high and does not give as much protection as is needed. In this amendment I seek to ensure that additional protections are given to those being considered for serving their sentences here.

Regarding the designation of countries, some 22 countries have signed up to the additional protocol. I am not sure if additional countries have signed up to it since the Human Rights Commission made its submission to the Minister. The Minister might confirm that number. I understand that 22 have signed up to the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The Minister's reply might help in terms of my deliberations on this amendment.

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