James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy, first for raising the tangential issues of the Law Society, the concerns about power of attorney, and the issue of the Tralee courthouse. I will bring those issues to the attention of the senior Minister.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, this debate relates to two Commission proposals on Council decisions which authorise the signing and a conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and Canada on the transfer of passenger name record data. It is considered desirable that Ireland avail of an Article 3 opt-in to these proposals, bearing in mind that Ireland is bound by the relevant EU directive on PNR data transfer and processing. PNR data has become a widely used law-enforcement tool in the European Union and beyond to combat terrorism and serious crime and, therefore, I trust the House will support the exercise of Ireland's opt-in and approve the motions for the signing and conclusion of the agreement concerned. I thank Deputies for their consideration of this important matter.

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