Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Everybody is in agreement about the necessity of ensuring we deal with these issues, particularly in regard to the sharing of vital information - fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration data. In the world we live in, there is an absolute necessity to ensure we have not only the legislation but also the technological capacity, etc., required to allow us to share information when dealing with crime. We all know how connected criminality is in this day and age. To some degree, criminals are miles ahead of those of us in this House. As a result, we need to be up to the task. A significant amount of legislation has been passed in recent times, particularly in respect of IT and cyber witnesses. As stated, we need to ensure that we have both the legislation and the technological capacity required. Much of this involves the transposition of European laws and directives. In some instances, we are late to the game.

I welcome the fact that this is happening. I add my voice in support of Deputy Martin Kenny in that this should have happened sooner. I ask that we be given some detail to allow us to ensure that we have our i's dotted and t's crossed and that all the necessary due diligence is done.

I accept that what we are discussing is due to the outworkings of the madness that is Brexit, the madness which we will be dealing with on this island for some time. It goes without saying that everyone in this House is of the opinion that we need to ensure there is no rowing back from the political point at which we are and that there will be no chance of making the Border in Ireland any harder than it already is. We hope there will be a point in the near future when it no longer exists. Until then, we do not need to add to the difficulties. We know conversations are ongoing in relation to dealing with some issues relating to the Irish protocol. I welcome what Commissioner Gentiloni and others have said recently, including Maroš Šefčovič. I refer to the idea that the Irish protocol is here to stay. We need to solve the problems that exist for businesses, farmers and others throughout this island, and particularly for those in the North. When people have conversations away from politics in respect of that matter, most of them are just interested in getting it done.

On this motion, Sinn Féin supports the extension. It is necessary. We just need to ensure that a complete audit is carried out in the context of our ability to fight organised crime and drug gangs, that we have the technical capacity required, that whatever relationships are needed are built up and that information is shared. I reiterate what Deputy Martin Kenny said. We also need to ensure that our approach is victim-centred and that we allow a scenario in which the information necessary to assist people who find themselves in terrible situations and who are the victims of crime is, insofar as is possible, facilitated in crossing borders.

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