Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Dea): Joint investigation teams have, for many years, been a feature of international co-operation in investigating cross-border crime, especially organised crime. They have generally been set up on the basis of understandings between the responsible competent authorities, without an internationally agreed framework for establishing and operating the teams. This Bill will enable effect to be given in Irish law to an agreement at European Union level which attempts to ensure that international boundaries are not used by criminal gangs to their advantage.