Written answers
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Department of Justice and Equality
EU Issues
Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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732. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the current European Commission proposal for a Regulation on the European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training Europol, thereby repealing the existing decisions on Europol and European Police College and allowing for their merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27627/13]
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The proposal referred to by the Deputy was discussed at last week's meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg (6/7 June) and detailed consideration by the relevant working group will commence, under the Irish Presidency, later this month. The proposal concerns two existing EU agencies, Europol and CEPOL. Europol's role is to support national law enforcement bodies in their fight against serious crime and terrorism. Europol does this by exchanging information between national services and providing analysis of data to assist national services. The European Police College, CEPOL, facilitates cooperation between national police services by organising and conducting training with a specific European and international dimension.
Given that Ireland currently holds the Presidency of the EU, I think that it would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on a proposal consideration of which we will be chairing. I am aware that some Member States are not convinced by the arguments put forward by the Commission in relation to the proposed merger and I am sure that this will be considered further in the course of the negotiations on the proposal.
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