M J Nolan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 926: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the status of extradition agreements with Holland and Spain; the reason his Department and the authorities have not sought the extradition of known individuals living in these countries who are involved in illicit drug dealing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32177/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 1 January 2004, the Extradition Act 1965 governed extradition arrangements between Ireland and other countries. Part II of the Act deals with extradition matters between Ireland and countries other than the United Kingdom. The European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, which became law on 1 January 2004, gives effect to the European Union Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European Arrest Warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States. It puts in place simplified procedures for the surrender of persons between the Member States of the EU. Under the provisions of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, a court may, upon application made by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, issue a European Arrest Warrant in respect of a person where it is satisfied, inter alia, that a domestic warrant has been issued for the arrest of that person but has not been executed and the person may not be in the State. As the Deputy will appreciate, both the courts and the DPP are independent in the exercise of their functions and, as Minister for Justice and Law Reform, I have no function in the making of such an application.