Seanad debates
Tuesday, 10 June 2003
Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.
I agree with many of Senator Ormonde's common sense remarks about justice and home affairs. Crime is an increasingly cross-border phenomenon. There are difficulties as a result of crime which originates outside the borders of the European Union, for example from the Middle East or from the Russian mafia. It is clearly in our interest to combat this issue, but it is difficult to do so when there are such entirely disparate criminal justice systems without a common system of enforcement or prosecution. I acknowledge that we have to ensure the rights of accused people are observed, an issue on which the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, has been strong. I do not support the position that obtains in a few European countries, where somebody can be detained and charged or not charged a year later, depending on what has been discovered in the meantime.
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