Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to LAW-TRAIN, which is a project to build a technological platform to unify the interrogation methodology between EU and Israeli police forces, and the fact that it is part of the Horizon 2020 EU funding cycle; his views on this grave case of the EU's cooperation with Israel's colonial military, police and security sectors; if his attention has been drawn to any plans for State institutions here to participate in the LAW-TRAIN advisory board; and if he will seek the cessation of EU funding to the Israeli military and homeland security companies, as well as Israeli military and security institutions, within the Horizon 2020 framework, as a necessary step towards an EU policy that effectively promotes human rights and international law in the Palestine-Israel region. [30742/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Police cooperation with Israel, and other Middle Eastern countries, is very important in view of shared threats, including both terrorism and cyber crime. This is a key priority, especially for those partners who have suffered such attacks in recent years.

Ireland and our EU partners have human rights concerns with many such countries in the region, not just with Israel, including on such matters as how information was obtained, and how it is used. These are sensitive issues, and EU principles are maintained in negotiating these agreements.

The Europol agreement with Israel has been under discussion for some years now as a result, and remains a work in progress. The details would be a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality.

I am not aware of the specific ‘Law Train’ project mentioned by the Deputy, and I have asked for further information. The material recently received by a number of Deputies did not give any suggestion that any Irish agency was taking part.