Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the outcome of his discussions with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive; if the issues pertaining to cross-Border crime were discussed; if so, if it is proposed to implement additional measures or provide additional specific resources to enhance security on both sides of the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24821/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there continues to be excellent ongoing cross-border engagement and co-operation with counterparts in Northern Ireland on relevant justice matters.

I have had regular contact with the Minister for Justice Naomi Long, MLA since my appointment in January. I had an initial virtual meeting with Minister Long on 4 February and more recently we met for a bilateral meeting in Belfast on 10 March. We engage on numerous areas of mutual concern and this includes efforts to tackle cross-border crime.

This political level engagement is supported by the close co-operation between my officials and officials in the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on a range of issues, between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and other agencies with their counterparts.

A reflection of this ongoing co-operation was the all-island organised crime conference that took place in Belfast in March. Minister Long and I were both in attendance, along with the Garda Commissioner and the Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI.

Another significant development in tackling cross border crime was the launch of the new Cross-Border Policing Strategy last December 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.

Looking to the future, Minister Long and I are due to meet again shortly on 28 May for a ministerial meeting under the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters. Minister Long and I jointly chair these meetings which cover a number of criminal justice strands of co-operation such as public protection, forensic science and youth justice. The IGA provides a valuable structure for ongoing North South engagement in tackling shared issues together.

At the Ministerial IGA meetings, officers from the PSNI and An Garda Síochána provide an update on the work of the cross border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) which was established to tackle organised and cross jurisdictional crime. The Task Force continues to facilitate excellent cross border cooperation, both on a practical day-to-day basis and at a strategic level. The results are evident in the multiple successes achieved in disrupting and preventing organised criminality and making all our communities safer. It promotes real-time collaboration between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in efforts to frustrate, disrupt and dismantle the activity of organised crime groups. It is led by senior officers from An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the PSNI, and HM Revenue and Customs with the Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Crime Agency involved as needed in operational activity.

The long-standing excellent cooperation between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in Northern Ireland has been key to tackling cross border crime and ensuring security on the Island. I know that the Garda authorities will continue to work effectively with their counterparts in tackling crime and promoting safety for all communities on this Island.