Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive opening statement on the motion regarding proposed approval of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of joint investigation teams. Of course, such teams have been around for quite a while. The regulation, in essence, proposes allowing them to set up a collaboration platform. The platform will be a highly secure online collaboration tool aimed at facilitating exchanges and co-operation within JITs through the duration to provide them with technological support to increase their efficiency and effectiveness in cross-border investigations and prosecutions. It will ensure those involved in JITs can more easily share information and the evidence collected in the course of their activities safely and securely with each other.

The Minister gave a concrete example of the importance of this, referring to the awful tragedy in Essex involving the discovery of 39 individuals. That investigation involved the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and France. They were all able to work together in that case but it is clear the Minister wants them to be able to do so in the most efficient way possible, with access to each other's information and shared data. That is really what the motion is doing. It is not setting up investigation teams; it is just allowing them to work much more efficiently than they did previously.

Clearly, if this involves Ukraine, it is not just for EU members. The platform will be run and administered by the EU but it is not exclusive to EU countries. Based on my understanding of the Minister's remarks, other countries that are involved in the context of these criminal gangs or organised crime will be able to participate in this process. What is happening in Ukraine is horrific. Every day, the news is worse and worse. We should be doing anything and everything we can as a European Union to help the Ukrainians pursue every single one of the perpetrators of these crimes. That is what we are doing through this motion. I will not delay the House. It is a very positive motion. I hope the other Senators who are present will speak in the same vein and light.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge for the first time the presence of Senator Clonan, our newest Senator. He is very welcome. It may be the first time he has been in the Chamber with this particular Minister but I am sure it will not be the last. He is very welcome. I hope he will be as supportive of the legislation as everybody who has spoken so far has been. It is a positive thing.

The Bill is quite technical. As Senator Conway outlined, it is much more about the IT backup to the joint investigations teams. The teams have already been doing their work. The motion aims to make it easier for them to work together and faster to take those involved in organised crime and criminality generally out of the loop and the system, and to protect the rest of us. I commend the motion on my behalf and that of Fianna Fáil.