Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to extradite criminals currently living on the proceeds of crime outside this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19765/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have no function in relation to the application for the issue of a European Arrest Warrant. This is a matter for the Garda authorities in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, as amended, a court may, upon application made by or on behalf of the DPP, issue a European Arrest Warrant subject to the provisions of the Act.

In relation to a person outside the EU, a request for extradition can only arise where the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that an individual should be prosecuted in the first instance. The decision to seek the extradition of a person charged with a criminal offence in this State rests with the Director.