Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These motions are self-evident and make perfect sense. I welcome the fact that the Government has taken steps to fast-track them and opt out of the delays that might have come with the updating regulations and the new ones, and with the opportunities available to Ireland. International co-operation benefits Ireland in particular. As a small and geographically peripheral country, that level of interaction with our international colleagues is of great importance to us in terms of all the areas included in these motions. It benefits us in terms of experience, information and information sharing, intelligence gathering and sharing and other opportunities such as training that might arise from time to time. There can be no overstating how important it is for Ireland to form part of this international co-operation network because without it we will quickly become isolated. I am happy to support the motions and restate how important they are for Ireland, which benefits to an even greater extent than most countries in Europe and around the world because we are a small country and because we benefit from the experience and work already done by other countries on this.

Although the motions are all justice-related, they have slightly different applications but each one benefits Ireland. They are clear examples of the necessity for us to engage in international co-operation and to become full players on the international stage, because that is how we benefit from them. Everything from insolvency to crime prevention, detection and, perhaps most importantly, prosecution is made easier and more effective through joining these international agreements, which give us an opportunity to maximise what we take away from them, which is more than a large country would. I have said that in this House previously.

I welcome the fact we have a more internationalist Government than those of past generations, one which engages properly in its international obligations and is open to the opportunities that brings for this country in law enforcement and the different systems within the justice system. I am happy to support these motions on behalf of the Fine Gael group and welcome their passage through the House.