Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome the Minister of State to the House. The European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022 amends the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, thus ensuring as the Minister of State said, Irish law is fully consistent with the Council framework decision of 13 June 2002. It adds timeframes for making certain decisions and makes certain actions obligatory rather than discretionary. The changes will result in a more accurate transposition of the Council framework decision of 13 June, as required by the European Commission. The Bill also makes other technical changes to the 2003 Act. This follows the initiation in 2020 of the EU infringement proceedings by the European Commission against Ireland.

The Minister of State outlined in his contribution the largely technical nature of this Bill and the fact that most of the changes being brought about are procedural and technical in nature. As he set out, the issues within the Bill include confirmation of time limits, the ability to make decisions and for the surrender of a person on foot of arrest warrants, which seem to be reasonable and acceptable.

The Bill, as presented, allows for greater and closer co-operation with other states involved, which is necessary and much-needed. As other colleagues mentioned, given the growing international aspect of crime and its total disrespect of country borders, it is essential we have robust and workable mechanisms in place in every EU state so that those intent on committing serious crime can be pursued across these country borders. We seem to be seeing a growing custom of the leaders of these crime gangs living in other jurisdictions while living off the criminal proceeds in other state. The laws and enforcement that will allow us to apprehend such criminals must also be border-free, in the same way many of these criminals seem to be able to ignore and exploit these same state borders.

As I have already said, the Bill is quite technical. It deals with updating and simplifying the procedures we have surrounding the application of extradition right now. As colleagues said, the extradition system has come a long way in this country over the last number of years and this legislation will improve the process for the betterment of our own security and that of our neighbours. On behalf of the Labour Party, we wish to support the Bill and we look forward to the amendments to be debated as it passes through the House in the coming weeks.