Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Currently we hear about increasing crime rates in this country. There have been significant increases in crime over the last number of years. Enormous increases of the order of almost 40% have occurred in headline crime since 2000. International crime is also escalating. It makes sense that we strengthen our international co-operation measures and the need to do that has never been as urgent. Not so long ago, in a single day €6 million worth of heroin was seized in Dublin, which is testament to the fact that the international drug lords and other dangerous criminals are at this stage using Ireland as a extension of their multinational criminal empires. Never before has Ireland been so vulnerable to undesirable criminal elements. These criminal overlords seek to use the freedom of movement throughout the Union, which I support for lawful activity, for the movement of goods and people to their advantage in distributing illegal substances, trafficking human beings and selling firearms, which are too often used by the gangs here with impunity.

It is important to realise how serious the problem has become. I mentioned lately in response to a newspaper article about the latest weekend murder that such murders, varying in number from week to week, were becoming a regular part of our weekend news diet. I checked the figures and note that during the past four years, which is roughly the period since the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been in office, 188 people were murdered or killed violently here, and the numbers are increasing rather than decreasing. The figure this year is exceptionally alarming. Many of these people owe their debts to international criminals who supply unscrupulous Irish murderers with dangerous and illegal weapons.

In that context, I supported the idea of an arms amnesty and I am disappointed so few of those dangerous and illegal weapons were handed up. Perhaps an issue for further discussion or separate debate at a future date should be how an effective amnesty could be introduced that would reach the criminal elements and result in the handing up of the tens of thousands of illegal weapons that appear to be in the country. That does not arise in the context of this debate. However, I share the same objective as the Minister in this respect and I am sad it was not realised.

Returning to the Bill, Europol is the European law enforcement organisation that handles criminal intelligence. Its mission is to assist the law enforcement authorities and member states in their fight against serious forms of organised crime. Unfortunately, there are no boundaries for organised criminal groups, as with the availability of modern technology and enormous resources these groups are illegally active worldwide. Organised crime represents a threat to the structure and values of our democratic systems and that affects all European citizens. It affects the security and freedom of all not only our citizens but citizens elsewhere in the Union.

Europol is a small organisation. It operates on what is effectively a tiny budget of €65 million. It has a staff of slightly more than 500. Given that the European Union has a population of approximately 300,000 million, Europol appears to be a small organisation with a tiny budget and an enormous mandate. I would have liked Ireland to have taken a frontline role in the past in trying to extend Europol's mandate and give it a more effective and broad-ranging role. From that point of view, I am encouraged by the confirmation from the Minister that the current Austrian Presidency has launched a political debate on the framework and objectives of the future development of Europol. I would encourage that debate and encourage the Minister, while he has a mandate, to contribute actively to the development of that idea and to offer ideas and support in any way possible towards the strengthening of Europol, in particular exploring how it can be made effective.

I did not note from Europol's personnel figures any great indication of an Irish involvement. The Minister when replying might outline, from an administrative point of view, the Irish personnel involved, the level they operate at, whether they are Europol liaison or security officers or in what capacity they are involved. He might also indicate Ireland's contribution to Europol's budget of €65 million.

In regard to this Bill, any legislation that helps to tackle the problem of organised international crime has my support. My main concern is not to in any way hamper or hinder the activities of Europol but to explore whether it is sufficiently developed as an organisation to provide a sufficient input into the fight against international crime.

This legislation specifically strengthens the international dimension of our policing system, which is to be welcomed. In particular, it gives the force of law to three protocols concerned with international policing co-operation and co-ordination. It is important to use this occasion to seriously reflect on the fact that Europol has been in place for 15 years since the ratification of the Maastricht treaty. It has made a contribution in helping the European police forces to combat terrorism, tackle unlawful drug trafficking and confront serious forms of international organised crime. There has probably been insufficient debate as to how effective it has been.

My concern is not to criticise Europol or the contribution we make or do not make to it but to establish whether it can be developed and made more effective in the future. The Maastricht treaty was signed in 1992 and at this stage Europol is co-ordinating the role of police forces ranging from the force in Seville in Spain to, in more recent times, the force in Lithuania. Europol's mandate has been developed particularly in recent years. Has the organisation developed sufficiently to be able to shoulder that mandate? At the time of the signing of Treaty of Rome more than 50 years ago it was difficult to imagine that we would be dealing with a Union that would stretch up to the borders of Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine, which were not independent states at that time. In planning ahead we must contemplate a Union, if Turkey accedes to it, that would stretch from Mizen Head in my constituency to the Siberian steppes and around to North Africa.

It would be an enormous area with a massive number of people. I fully support the developments which have taken place in the European Union. I am more and more enthusiastic about developments such as the European constitution. Those developments bring enormous challenges for administration control.

It is important to realise it would bring our borders close to areas where instability is the order of the day. Places of such instability are a breeding ground for international criminals, some encouraged by state bodies in those countries. It is incumbent on every member state to ratify the protocols included in the Bill and enshrine them in national legislation as quickly as possible. I would have preferred this to have been done previously but let us do it quickly now.

Fine Gael always supports the timely and effective integration into Irish law of international treaties, protocols and agreements to which we are a signatory in line with our international commitments. The protocols have existed for a number of years and enshrining them in national law is not before time. Having done so, let us not close the file, but see how much more can be done. We should actively and significantly contribute on the international stage to any development of Europol.

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