Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We will also be supporting this motion. Having an extradition treaty with the UAE is desirable. It is galling to see individuals who have wreaked havoc living in comfort in another jurisdiction and also operating without any sanction. These are people who in some cases are household names. However, we must remember that individual cases do not make good law. That has often been said, rightly so. In looking at this extradition treaty we must consider it in a wider context, not just through the lens of organised crime. We must consider its durability in the long term.

It is important that there are safeguards because we have two very different cultures and two very distinct ways of dealing with issues. Matters that we would consider criminal might not be so considered in the UAE and vice versa. It is important that human rights are central to the treaty. I note there were quite a lot of safeguards outlined in the document we were provided with, but more could be considered.

We must also consider how we got to the point where we have these home-grown crime gangs and the extent of their power, which is international at this stage. That comes back to how organised crime groups are allowed to develop, in respect of the level of policing and the lack of proactive policing. We have seen that in such places as Limerick, Louth and the north inner city of Dublin where communities have been blighted and reputational damage is done to them as a consequence of people being allowed to get to a point where the population can say the dogs in the street could have told us. It nearly seems to get to a pitch before it is dismantled. That is because a proactive policing model is lacking to the extent required. The Garda Commissioner rightly told the Policing Authority that the total strength of the Garda is 14,064 but he made the point that this is inadequate. I know there is a constant intake of recruits to Templemore but the output is very slow to emerge, especially given the number of people retiring, sometimes mid-career because of the competitive jobs market and their skill set.

We cannot look at the treaty in isolation. We must look at how these home-grown gangs got to the point where they are so powerful internationally. We cannot allow that to continue. This is about dealing with things at a much lower level than they have been dealt with and breaking up these gangs at a much earlier stage.

I have a question for the Minister about Article 24 of the treaty. We are doing our piece on the motion. Could she give us an update in respect of the UAE's side and the timeline for completion of communications through the diplomatic channels? I know the dates on which the treaties were signed last month, but the Minister might just confirm them.

I read an article by Conor Gallagher in today's The Irish Times. The Garda Síochána Inspectorate has made a recommendation regarding the way in which An Garda Síochána handles organised and transnational crime. It recommends that informants who provide intelligence to the Garda on organised crime activity should be permitted to commit criminal offences in certain circumstances. I ask the Minister to comment on that and indicate what her views are on it. I have some concerns in that regard and I would be surprised if others do not feel the same way. The Minister might elaborate on it.

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