Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the potential savings that can be made through an all-island approach to policing and community safety. [36822/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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A financial analysis of the scenario posited by the Deputy would require consideration of a wide range of factors, including legal issues and policy considerations, and is not practicable in the absence of a clearer understanding of what might be involved.

That being said, I am happy to inform the House that the level of cooperation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI has never been higher. As a result, the two forces are working together seamlessly across a broad range of policing activities.

Operational policing cooperation is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner and the PSNI Chief Constable as well as their respective forces. Both police chiefs have emphasised the close nature and high quality of the on-going cooperation which is taking place and it has been instrumental in combating serious crime and saving lives. The overall framework involved is that the two forces operate a Cross-Border Policing Strategy which includes cross-Border investigations and operations. It also encompasses intelligence-sharing, security, information and communications technology and emergency planning.

Of course, combating the subversive threat remains an absolute priority for the Garda authorities and their PSNI counterparts. In that context I can assure the Deputy, and the House, that the Government is committed to maintaining the highest level of cooperation between the Gardaí and the PSNI.