Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

There is very substantial co-operation and there have been joint operations involving the PSNI and Garda and Her Majesty's Revenue Services and the Revenue Commissioners. Those operations have been particularly successful in the context of dealing, not simply with subversion but with criminal gangs who have been engaged in fuel smuggling, drug trafficking and in bringing large amounts of tobacco products and cigarettes across the border into the Republic to evade revenue obligations that would otherwise arise.

It would be fair to say that the Minister, David Ford, MLA, and myself agree that the level of co-operation is as good as it could be. There is substantial interaction between agencies across the Border on both sides to ensure the maximum co-operation in tackling not just subversives but organised crime. I would maintain regular contact with Minister Ford, as he does with me, on occasion by telephone without formal meetings, where issues arise.

There is a close relationship between the Chief Constable Matt Baggott and the Garda Commissioner, and that will continue to be the case. I had the pleasure, with Minister Ford, of opening a joint police conference which was held a few days ago between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána in which they looked overall at policy and where we now stand, and future policy development in the tackling of organised crime and subversive crime on all parts of the island.

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