Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Members of the Seanad for their consideration of the Bill and for the support given to it and its principles. This is a very important Bill and its importance should not be diminished. It was useful to read out the annexe to the Bill, which lists the multiplicity of serious crimes in respect of which Europol can play a role in the mutual exchange of information and in the context of other functions that arise. It is of great importance at a time when criminals do not recognise national boundaries and when organised crime seeks to exploit a variety of options for making substantial money for itself, to the detriment of others and causing misery in the lives of many people.

The Bill deals with serious crimes, from murder to human trafficking, kidnapping and a range of other crimes and it is of the greatest importance there is the maximum co-operation between member states of the European Union in addressing these issues, and in particular between the police forces in the member states. It is through the exchange of information and the possibility, on occasion, of engaging in joint policing in the area of cross-border crime, where expertise in different states can come together, that we can, as a State, properly respond to the transnational nature of organised crime and those engaged in it.

I thank Senators for the speedy passage of this measure which will come into force and will further enhance levels of co-operation and our capacity to operate at European level through Europol.