Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The subject matter of these agreements between the Garda Síochána and other police forces concern policing and operational issues. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform sees no reason they should have to be publicised or require Dáil approval before they enter into force. They are the type of agreement of an administrative or technical character which comes within the meaning of Article 29.5.3° of the Constitution. The Houses of the Oireachtas, therefore, do not have a strict constitutional function in these matters as they are within the constitutional proviso which permits such agreements to be concluded without parliamentary approval.