Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for his question and for his ongoing work. I only wish I had counterparts in Northern Ireland. I do not say that to be facetious but the Deputy will see during my answer how the absence of an Executive stymies some levels of engagement. However, I am pleased to say there is excellent ongoing cross-Border co-operation with counterparts in Northern Ireland on relevant justice matters. It is important I state that clearly. This includes co-operation between my Department and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland on a range of issues as well as extraordinarily good co-operation between An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, and other agencies with their counterparts.

The intergovernmental agreement on co-operation on criminal justice matters, IGA, is the main formal stream of ongoing joint work. Under the IGA, a senior officials working group oversees co-operation through a number of co-chaired policy advisory groups in a range of criminal justice areas, including forensic science, probation, public protection, victim support and youth justice matters. This group last met last month, March, and includes senior policymakers from all relevant areas from both jurisdictions. The group progresses criminal justice matters of mutual interest with the aim of achieving more effective co-operation and co-ordination on criminal justice matters. The IGA also offers a structured mechanism under which Ministers from both jurisdictions meet. Unfortunately, with the current lack of an Executive, it has not been possible to meet in this ministerial format in recent months, but the senior officials working group continues to meet to progress the work plan as approved by Ministers.

There is regular North-South co-operation outside of the formal framework of the IGA. For example, in February, officials from my Department met with their counterparts from Northern Ireland on international co-operation in criminal matters, including extradition and mutual legal assistance. The Northern Ireland delegation was led by the international criminal justice co-operation unit and included representatives from international co-operation teams in the PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland and the Crown Solicitor’s Office. The meeting was also attended by An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Chief State Solicitor's Office. The meeting focused on practical matters of mutual interest and how we can work more closely together. Further, last November, senior officials from my Department met their Northern Ireland counterparts to discuss a range of matters, including criminal justice co-operation.

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