Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will support a common European policy on organised crime. [15783/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Combating serious and organised crime continues to be a key priority of the European Union in the development of an area of freedom, security and justice.

The Stockholm Programme – An Open and Secure Europe Serving and Protecting Citizens, is the key strategic document setting out guidelines for legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice for the period 2010-2014. The Programme includes a number of strategic goals in combating serious and organised crime including the adoption of an organised crime strategy, within the framework of the Internal Security Strategy, and the setting of priorities in crime policy against which the Union will deploy the tools available to it.

Ireland welcomed the Stockholm Programme at the time of its adoption and continues to support the implementation of this five year work programme for the Justice and Home Affairs area. In 2010 the Internal Security Strategy was adopted setting out the challenges, principles and guidelines for how to deal with emerging threats and to increase Europe's security. The Strategy called upon the Commission to propose actions for implementing the Strategy and a Commission communication, the EU Internal Security Strategy in Action, was published at the end of 2010. Included in the Commission communication are a number of actions aimed at disrupting international crime networks together with a timeframe for their development during the period 2010 to 2014.

At the most recent Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, my European colleagues and I, adopted Council Conclusions on setting the European Union's priorities for the fight against organised crime between 2011 and 2013. These Conclusions facilitate further work on the creation and implementation of an EU policy cycle for organised and serious international crime for the period 2011 to 2013. The policy cycle will allow the Union to focus on those threats and challenges that need specific attention and to develop an approach to tackle and monitor these threats and challenges.

All of these measures represent significant progress in implementing the priorities set out in the Stockholm Programme. That said, there remains a significant body of work to be progressed and significant challenges to be met in tackling organised crime at European Union level. These matters are reflected in the various work programmes and action plans of the EU institutions which outline further initiatives to be developed in the coming years.

I am fully supportive of the strategy that the European Union has adopted in the Stockholm Programme and of the practical measures for international cooperation arising from that Programme which provide real and added value to the Community in tackling international serious and organised crime. In representing Ireland at European level I will continue to support and, where the opportunity arises, advance initiatives that will serve the Union well in its fight against organised crime.

From an Irish perspective, I am particularly mindful of the success that we have had in this jurisdiction in tackling the proceeds of crime through the setting up of the Criminal Assets Bureau. I strongly believe that the Union can build on this type of model to ensure effective co-operation on the confiscation of assets within the Union and I propose to do all I can to advance that with my European colleagues.