Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement listing and describing the protocols governing co-operation between the PSNI and the Gardaí. [2843/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) engage in close and ongoing reciprocal co-operation on a number of levels, including:

mutual legal assistance;

direct police to police contact on both formal and informal bases; and

agreements and protocols, pursuant to law or otherwise.

With specific regard to police-to-police protocols, there are two arrangements which govern such co-operation. The first protocol relates to the exchange of personnel between the two police services with a view to further improving bilateral policing co-operation between the jurisdictions. This protocol facilitates the exchange of personnel between specific police stations for periods of time not exceeding one year. For the duration of their placement, seconded police officers remain full members of their respective police services and do not exercise police powers in the other's jurisdiction.

The second protocol relates to the secondment of staff with policing powers between the two jurisdictions. Through such secondments, it is expected that bilateral co-operation between the two police services may be further strengthened. Such secondments may run for no longer than three years.

Both protocols were entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Intergovernment Agreement on Police Co-operation between Ireland and Britain, signed in April 2002.