Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the Garda public attitudes survey for the first quarter of 2019, when respondents were asked about crime nationally, 71% perceived crime nationally as a very serious or serious problem, compared with only 16% who considered local crime to be a very serious or serious problem. It is important that we are all conscious about the impact that fear of crime can have on people's lives and, in that sense, it is essential that our public utterances at all times reflect the facts. That was the opening comment of Senator Ó Donnghaile's contribution, and I agree with him.

This brings me to cross Border co-operation, and I acknowledge the interest of Senator Ó Donnghaile and other Senators in this area. Senators will be aware that policing in the Border region has always presented particular challenges that necessitate a collaborative approach to policing with law enforcement agencies north and south of the Border. Many Senators will remember the time when co-operation between police forces in the North and the South was practically non-existent. A huge gain from our peace process and the related police reform that occurred in Northern Ireland is that we are now living in a golden age of co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI. That co-operation is saving lives, preventing crimes and ensuring that criminals face justice. The importance of this co-operation has been particularly emphasised in recent weeks by the abhorrent attack on Mr. Kevin Lunney, who is a businessman in the Border region. I was in Cavan and Fermanagh last week and I met the Chief Constable of the PSNI, Mr. Simon Byrne, and the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, for discussions on cross-Border crime issues. I also met the local chief superintendent, John O'Reilly in Cavan. I addressed a case conference involving An Garda Síochána national units and the PSNI that was under way in Cavan town. A joint operation has been in place for some time arising from a number of incidents that have taken place in the area and the horrific attack on Mr. Lunney, whom I also met.That is being addressed through a joint investigation and the sharing of information and evidence between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI.

There are specific calls in the Fianna Fáil motion for the establishment of a cross-border multidisciplinary agency to target criminal activity. However, a successful multi-agency cross-border task force is in place to tackle cross-Border crime. The joint agency task force was established in November 2015 by the British and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive under the Fresh Start agreement as part of a concerted and enhanced effort to tackle organised and cross-Border jurisdictional crime. Senator Ó Donnghaile referred to it in his constructive commentary. Joint policing is not only policing between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána and it also involves other agencies and organisations. The strategic oversight group of the task force is chaired jointly at senior management level by An Garda Síochána and the PSNI. It also includes senior personnel in relevant agencies, including the Revenue Commissioners and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Crime Agency are all closely involved with the joint agency task force. The task force has made strong progress in tackling cross-Border criminal activity across a range of crime areas, including not just traditional smuggling activities but also rural and farm crimes, organised burglary and drug crime.

The regrettable absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland means that the work of the task force is less visible than it might have been. I was asked what Senators might do. They should continue to engage with their colleagues north of the Border to ensure that every effort can be made to restore the Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland. Last week, when a joint press conference was arranged I was on my own because I did not have a colleague from north of the Border; there is no Minister for justice with whom I can liaise on a regular basis. I regret that as working together in a collaborative forum is the key to success, particularly in areas that straddle jurisdictions. The task was designed to report to justice ministers, North and South, and it is my hope that the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland will allow the task force to reach its full potential.

I acknowledge Senator Robbie Gallagher's comments about Border communities. He knows about them as he was born and lives there. He is there on a daily basis.