Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course I support any co-operation that is of relevance to ensuring we have effective and co-operative policing on a cross-Border basis. The policing committees are independent in their operation. It would be a bad precedent and is not appropriate for me, as Minister, to start making demands of them or issuing instructions to them. Obviously if a request has been made for them to have a joint meeting, it is a matter for those committees how they respond to that request and to consider the benefit of such a meeting in the context of its contribution to cross-Border policing.

The cross-Border policing strategy recognises the particular value of interagency co-operation in certain areas, for example, in ongoing efforts to combat organised crime. A cross-Border taskforce on fuel laundering and smuggling comprising representatives from the two police forces, the two customs services, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency has underpinned successful actions to disrupt the activities of groups involved in laundering and distributing illegal fuels. A cross-Border tobacco enforcement group is also in place to support the fight against the activities of gangs engaged in tobacco fraud. The agencies working in co-operation have had some substantial success in the confiscation of illegal fuel and tobacco.

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