Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with his Northern or UK counterpart this year; if the matter of the proposed establishment of the British National Crime Agency was discussed; the outcome of this discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I meet regularly and have ongoing discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, the Home Secretary, Theresa May and the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling. Our discussions cover a range of areas of mutual interest in the justice sector, including the ongoing efforts to combat threats from criminal terrorists, efforts to tackle serious and organised crime and to improve community safety on the island of Ireland. In this context, I am aware of the proposal to establish a National Crime Agency in the UK.

Operational co-operation in combating crime is the responsibility of the Garda Authorities and in this regard they maintain a close working relationship with the police and other law enforcement services in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. I have no doubt that relationship of co-operation will continue into the future in the framework of whatever structure is in place in Northern Ireland and Britain.