Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proactive action undertaken to ensure that if and when unnamed criminals depart from a country (details supplied), the arm of the Irish law will be on their respective heels; if countries where they may be received have been identified; if so, if these countries have been engaged with to establish an extradition process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36621/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Organised crime groups may think they can evade justice by crossing borders; they cannot. It is essential that they see there can be no hiding place from the law. I would like to assure the Deputy, that this Government is taking all necessary steps to dismantle organised crime groups, and that the State will do everything in its power to bring criminals to justice.

Over the past number of years, Ireland has stepped up international co-operation in combatting transnational organised crime.

The recent agreement of a Bilateral Treaty on Extradition and a Bilateral Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) with the United Arab Emirates, which came in to force in May of this year, represents a crucial step in intensifying our combined efforts to combat this serious threat. These agreements emphasise the critical importance of ensuring effective co-operation between judicial authorities in both jurisdictions in criminal matters, including criminal investigations, prosecutions, and proceedings.

The negotiation of treaties with the UAE is part of a wider programme of work by the Department that is supported by a cross-departmental and inter-agency Bilateral Treaties Working Group (BTWG), the objective of which is to ensure Ireland takes a comprehensive and consistent approach to the negotiation of bilateral MLA and extradition treaties; and to input to the consideration and negotiation of such treaties, in consultation with relevant stakeholders as required.

A number of steps have been taken to support international policing cooperation, which is crucial to dismantling organising crime gangs who engage in criminal activities such as money laundering, drugs and human trafficking. The deployment of Garda Liaison Officers is an effective and practical form of interagency cooperation between police services. It has supported the exchange of information and the coordination of operations across borders. These posts are currently situated in Madrid, Paris, London, The Hague, Washington D.C., Bogota, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok.