Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the availability of assistance in the fight against crime through Eurojust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40544/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Eurojust is responsible for improving the co-ordination of cross-border investigations and prosecutions. Eurojust is composed of 27 National Members, one seconded from each member state in accordance with its legal system being a prosecutor, judge, or police officer of equivalent competence. Ireland is represented by a prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In July 2008, the Council of Ministers reached political agreement on a Council Decision on the strengthening of Eurojust which will provide for:

on-call co-ordination at Eurojust,

the conferring of a range of powers at national level on Eurojust national members,

a Eurojust national co-ordination system,

specific obligations to provide certain information to Eurojust national members,

the possibility for the posting of Eurojust liaison magistrates to third states, and

the possibility for Eurojust to co-ordinate the execution of a request for judicial co-operation issued by a third state.

The proposed Council Decision is due to be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers in the near future. Ireland is fully supportive of the Council Decision.