Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the recent meeting in Brussels with ministerial representatives from 12 Latin American countries to discuss ways to further co-operation in fighting drug trafficking, trafficking in arms and trafficking in human beings. [12721/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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On 5 March 2025 Ministerial representatives from 12 Latin American Countries attended a working lunch with the Home Affairs Ministers of the EU Member States. At the working lunch Ministers discussed how the EU and the Latin American Committee on Internal Security (CLASI), might further co-operate in the fight against drug trafficking, trafficking in arms and trafficking in human beings. A Joint Declaration and a roadmap to implement operational co-operation priorities in 2025 to 2026 were agreed at this working lunch, which Minister of State Collins attended on behalf of Ireland.

Serious and organised crime knows no borders, and the only way to stop the devastation that those who engage in such activities cause, is to continue to work effectively with our international partners and it is very welcome that EU-CLASI co-operation continues to deepen and grow. The CLASI Ministers will next attend a working lunch of the EU Home Affairs Ministers in 2026 under Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union where it is hoped that we can agree a new declaration and roadmap to implement our co-operation priorities which will build on what has been achieved to-date.