Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

It is strange that we are having a debate on establishing a committee in the European Union. The reason for doing so seems so self-evident. As the Minister of State said, the European Union has an important role to play in bringing together the actions of member states in this area aimed at promoting and ensuring internal security and police co-operation. The reason we are doing this is because Ireland has chosen to have available to it the facility to opt out of these types of provisions unless it opts in.

I appreciate that, under pressure, the Government committed to a review of the opt-out from the area of policing and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. However, it is regrettable that we must take a positive decision to opt in to these types of decisions given the extent of gangland crime and criminality in this jurisdiction. Irrespective of whether drug dealing or human trafficking is involved, there is always a cross-border element. It is self-evident that Ireland, perhaps more than any other member state, needs the co-operation of the Union in combating these forms of crime.

It is a self-evident proposition that there should be co-ordination at EU level of the forces of law and order, including policing and customs organisations. This is provided for in Article 71 of the Lisbon treaty. It does not undermine in any respect the competence of member states and their responsibility in the area of internal security. It is to ensure co-ordination at EU level in the areas of policing, customs and judicial co-operation.

The process began with the Maastricht treaty and the Amsterdam treaty, which was drawn up under the Irish Presidency. The concept of co-operation accelerated from that period. Mr. John Bruton, who was then chairman of the Council of Ministers, made the tackling of crime within the Union a priority for the Union. Since then, there has been an acceleration of the work of member states with regard to co-operation on policing, customs and the protection of borders.

There are already a number of bodies established in this area, including Eurojust, Europol and Frontex, and they are all working very well. COSI is very important to ensure co-operation among the different bodies. It is important that the Government does not just participate as of form but that it identifies what it wants to achieve from this committee and others established at EU level. It should have its own agenda and identify how the Union and other member states can assist in combating cross-border crime of the most serious kind. Passive co-operation will not get us very far.

Ireland has serious problems, particularly with its coastline being used for the smuggling of illegal drugs and because it is a gateway to the rest of Europe. We can create an incentive for other member states to assist us in combating this illegal activity. When opting in with respect to the committee, with which I fully agree, it is imperative that the Government sets out an agenda.

The name of the committee, COSI, is somewhat unfortunate.