Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on his engagements with Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland, David Ford MLA, in respect of security in Border areas; if he will refer specifically to security concerns in rural areas here that are close to Derry City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45978/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I maintain very regular contact with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, to address matters of shared interest and to enhance co-operation on all policing and criminal justice matters on this island. The Deputy will understand that national security is not a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and, in this regard, I also meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, to address a range of matters of mutual concern, relating particularly to the security situation.

I have taken a strong interest in cross-border co-operation in policing and criminal justice on this island since taking office as Minister. This co-operation is multifaceted, including frequent ministerial contacts and day-to-day operational interaction between the police services and other relevant agencies, all aimed at improving community safety for all communities on this island including, in particular, those close to the border.

Combating the paramilitary threat is an absolute priority in both jurisdictions. The Garda Síochána work seamlessly with their Northern Ireland counterparts to tackle these criminal terrorists and the organised crime gangs to which they are inextricably linked. The Garda Commissioner and the PSNI Chief Constable repeatedly emphasise that the close and high quality co-operation between the two police services is central to combating these shared threats.

Under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters Minister Ford and I operate a structured framework for co-operation involving the range of criminal justice agencies on this island. The personnel from those agencies work together in bringing forward an annual work programme of co-operation and our respective officials also meet regularly to assess and report to us on developments.

There is, of course, close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI on all aspects of policing. The two police services operate a joint Cross Border Policing Strategy which has as its aims to improve public safety throughout Ireland, to disrupt criminal activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services on the island. The two police services are jointly engaged in implementing a number of initiatives in all areas of policing in all these areas with, understandably, a focus on areas close to the border, including those in the Deputy's constituency.