Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of the requests for assistance from foreign police forces in 2008 that resulted in arrests and convictions here; and the number of the subjects of those enquiries that were deported or extradited. [11847/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There were 317 outgoing requests for legal assistance transmitted to foreign Central Authorities for Mutual Assistance in 2008 by the Irish Central Authority which is based in my Department. The assistance requested included the taking of evidence, the interviewing of witnesses, the service of judicial documents and criminal record checks. All of the requests related to criminal investigations and/or criminal proceedings in this jurisdiction. The Irish Central Authority's role is to transmit a request for assistance on behalf of the Garda authorities or the Director of Public Prosecutions to the relevant foreign authority. The Central Authority has no role in relation to the investigation or proceedings giving rise to the request and, as such, does not have information in relation to the outcome of the investigations and proceedings where assistance is sought. Accordingly, information in relation to convictions and other outcomes is not readily available.