Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill. It is important that laws relating to European arrest warrants are brought up to date with the European Council's framework decision of 2002. That is long overdue. As a result of the delay in doing it, infringement proceedings were initiated in 2020 by the European Commission against Ireland. What is proposed with regard to the European arrest warrant will update the current extradition system between member states. There is a clear objective here, namely, to permit the free movement of judicial decisions in criminal matters across the EU. While I welcome the Bill, there are, however, aspects that need to be clarified. Where will the Court of Appeal stand in the context of European arrest warrants if the Bill is enacted? I am also concerned that certain parts of the Bill are excessive, such as the provision relating to the extradition of someone to serve out a sentence of just four months. There is no option within the Bill for minor sentences to be served within the Irish prison system. Will the Minister of State clarify the position in this regard? Sinn Féin will support the Bill, but we will table amendments to correct flaws and strengthen different aspects of it.

While we are on the subject, it is important to note the abuses carried out by some states. Countries such as Great Britain have used requests for extradition to suppress civil liberties. Most notably, Julian Assange remains in a maximum security prison despite not being charged with a crime in Britain. The charges he faces in the United States are politically motivated. This view is shared by every major press freedom organisation. The charges he faces are also a serious attack on journalism. It gives the green light to imprison journalists for simply doing their job. The abuses and suppression of civil liberties that Julian Assange endures at the hands of the British Government should not be tolerated by the international community. The fact that it is tolerated on the grounds of an extradition case is an absolute disgrace. The Government is like disinterested passers by when it should be shouting stop. Using the extradition process as a tool for political attack cannot be tolerated.

See this speech in context