Dáil debates

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Priority Questions

Northern Ireland Issues

2:00 pm

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his proposals to work with his northern counterpart to increase all-Ireland justice and crime initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6796/12]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I regularly meet my Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford, and we have developed a close working relationship. We have a shared desire to enhance and further develop North-South co-operation across the range of our respective areas of responsibility.

Structured co-operation between our Departments and the related criminal justice agencies North and South is provided for under the intergovernmental agreement on co-operation on criminal justice matters. I meet regularly the Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford, MLA, under the auspices of the agreement to discuss matters of mutual interest and consider strategies for more effective co-operation on criminal justice matters between the jurisdictions.

In addition to these regular ministerial meetings, project groups comprising relevant officials and practitioners from the two jurisdictions have been established to take forward co-operation in the fields of youth justice, victims of crime, management of sex offenders, public protection, forensic science and social diversity. These groups involve high level representation from relevant agencies, North and South, and their role is to promote and co-ordinate practical operational co-operation, the exchange of best practice and sharing of policy initiatives and, where appropriate, the exchange of personnel. In the past year some of the practical initiatives to emerge from the project groups included a memorandum of understanding in respect of forensic science services and recommendations on dealing with sex offenders who had crossed the Border.

An annual cross-Border organised crime conference is organised by the two justice Departments and the law enforcement agencies, North and South. It focuses on enhancing practical co-operation in combating serious cross-Border criminality and has acted as a useful catalyst in driving ongoing efforts to tackle serious crimes such as tiger kidnapping and fuel laundering.

The two police forces operate a joint cross-Border policing strategy that aims to improve public safety throughout Ireland by disrupting criminal activity in both jurisdictions and enhancing the policing capability of both police services. The joint strategy covers a range of policing areas, including cross-Border investigations and operations, intelligence sharing and security, communications and information technology, training and emergency planning. It indicates the scope of this co-operation and the determination of both police forces to use the tools available to ensure those who seek to exploit the Border for criminal ends will not succeed.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This close co-operation reflects the Government's strong continuing commitment to cross-Border working which can only be to the benefit of all the people of the island.

I met the Minister, Mr. Ford, and Scotland's Secretary for Justice, Mr. Kenny MacAskill, last week when we discussed a number of matters of common interest. These included sectarianism, sharing expertise in forensic science, civil asset seizure procedures to combat crime, police reform, measures to reduce offending, prisons issues, reform of criminal legal aid, monitoring of sex offenders and vetting procedures for persons to work with children and vulnerable adults. These are all matters of common interest and it enhances our responses, North and South, to know how these matters are being dealt with by the Scottish authorities.

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is clear from the Minister's response that there is good co-operation between the North and the South. Long may this continue. Regarding how the strategies for co-operation are set out, is it a case of dealing with matters as they arise or is a 12 or 24 month strategy put in place? How are strategies put in place and what criteria are used? Are there other areas in which cross-Border co-operation is necessary?

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There is a series of meetings at ministerial level with the Minister, Mr. Ford. As I detailed, at official level there is ongoing contact and strategies are being developed on a continuous basis, not as piecemeal responses to issues that arise. For example, there is ongoing interaction between the probation services, North and South. I attended a meeting of the two services at a conference held some weeks ago that I opened with the Minister, Mr. Ford. We have provided for interaction and shared experiences.

Co-operation goes beyond the island of Ireland. I met the Minister, Mr. Ford, and Scotland's justice Secretary, Mr MacAskill, on Wednesday of last week when we discussed a number of matters of common interest. The Deputy might be interested to know that these included the problem of sectarianism, for example, the difficulties experienced in Scotland, sharing expertise in forensic science, civil asset seizure procedures to combat crime, police reform, measures to reduce offending, prison issues, reform of criminal legal aid, monitoring of sex offenders and vetting procedures for persons to work with children and vulnerable adults. We also discussed the issue of human trafficking in the context of labour issues and prostitution. There is a range of areas in which common policies are developing. The tripartite meetings with the Minister, Mr. Ford, and Scotland's justice Secretary, Mr. MacAskill, are annual affairs, but there is a deepening of relationships and a continuing exchange of experiences in these areas.

I welcome the close co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI and the interaction between the Department of Justice in the North and my Department.

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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On legislation the Department is drafting, I am aware that an impact analysis is made in terms of financial requirements and so on. In the case of personal insolvency, I understand the proposed legislation will include a discharge period of three years, whereas the corresponding figure in the North is 12 months. In this and other matters is account taken of the situation in the North and how legislation enacted in the State might impact on an all-island basis?

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The alcohol legislation is a classic example of the cross-Border co-operation in which we are engaged. One of the proposals we are considering is for both Governments to enact legislation to prevent what are known as volume sales of alcohol, where, for example, there might be an offer of 12 bottles for the price of six. Given their proximity, one cannot enact legislation in areas such as this on one side of the Border but not the other.

In addressing issues relating to personal insolvency we were acutely aware of the legislation in place in Northern Ireland, as well as in England, Scotland and Wales. All of these matters are factored into the considerations we apply in determining the best legislative course to follow. That is not to say that on all issues our legislation will be identical to that enacted in the North. However, in the area of criminal justice, for instance, the extent to which we can ensure harmonisation is very important in the fight against criminal gangs.