Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the procedural manual designed as an authoritative guide for police officers and prosecutors with a view to maximising the chances of successful detections and prosecutions in cross-Border cases has been completed; if it is in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46124/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to begin by stating that co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI has never been better, both in terms of range and quality. The two police forces on the island are working more closely together than ever in the service of the Irish people.

I know that the Deputy met with the Garda Commissioner and with officials of my own Department as part of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly's examination of North-South policing co-operation and that he was briefed at that time on our intention to issue a manual of guidance in relation to criminal investigations which contain a significant cross-border element.

Officials of my Department and representatives of An Garda Síochána have met with their equivalents from Northern Ireland on several occasions over the last year with a view to issuing to police officers in both jurisdictions a manual of guidance as to the particular circumstances which arise in relation to criminal investigations which contain a significant cross-border element. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and its Northern Ireland counterpart have also been consulted with a view to ensuring that, as far as is possible, the differing requirements of the two judicial systems are taken into account in the police investigations. The most recent meeting took place last month and another is scheduled for early in the New Year.

The differences in the criminal law and criminal procedures in the two jurisdictions requires us to ensure that, on our side, the Gardaí continue to comply with our own requirements, while endeavouring to maximise the possibility of the use of evidence in the other jurisdiction. The manual must reflect this and I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that when dealing with matters of law and of law enforcement across two separate jurisdictions, the work involved is complex and painstaking. I nevertheless advised that it is expected that the manual will be ready in the middle of 2010.