Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate what the Minister said and accept that he has no role in deciding whether amendments are discussed. However, this section relates to the Extradition Act 1965 which was based on a 1957 Council of Europe convention. Section 8 of the Act can apply where the State has made an agreement with a country that is a signatory to the convention, to which the State is also a party. The section of the Bill which amends the Act ensures the provision will apply to Britain post Brexit and takes account of more efficient and up-to-date electronic means for processing applications.

The amendments sought to ensure the legislation would remain up to date in the context of changes in compliance with human rights provisions in other European jurisdictions. They are important in the light of the threat posed by Brexit and the view held by the current and previous British Governments on the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. All continental European countries, with the exception of Belarus, are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights which has been defined as a key value of Europe and is frequently referenced in EU literature, even though it is a Council of Europe document. We know the British Government's view on the charter.That is why, appreciating and acknowledging what the Minister said, the amendments sought within the context of emergency legislation to embolden and empower the Government to amend it, where necessary, to ensure it would be fully human rights compliant and compliant with the charter.