The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, T.D. and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, Claire Sugden, MLA, met in Dublin today.
The Ministers met to discuss ongoing North-South co-operation across the range of criminal justice matters under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters. The Ministers also received the first report from the Joint Agency Task Force, which was formed under the Fresh Start Agreement to bring together the expertise of a range of law enforcement agencies involved in tackling the organised crime gangs that seek to exploit the borders between the jurisdictions.
The Ministers also discussed the result of the UK’s recent EU referendum vote and agreed to keep in close contact to ensure the current positive North-South co-operation on justice and policing can be maintained.
The Tánaiste welcomed the ongoing joint work by the criminal justice agencies and the continued development of co-operation across the range of issues of shared interest: “The first report of the Joint Agency Task Force, which Minister Sugden and I received today emphasises the need to maintain a priority focus on tackling cross-border organised crime, including that linked to paramilitarism, given its insidious and corrosive impact on society.
The law enforcement and justice agencies North and South deserve credit for their work in focusing on criminal activities that can have a serious impact on lives and in communities and we are committed to continue building that co-operation into the future.”
Minister Sugden said: “I welcome the opportunity to engage early with the Tánaiste on a range of cross border issues and have confirmed my commitment to maintain and strengthen relations between our jurisdictions, particularly in light of the outcome of the EU referendum. In that context, it is clear that there will be specific issues for justice to be worked through. It will be a priority for me to ensure that the excellent levels of co-operation continue.
I also welcome the first report of the Joint Agency Task Force and in particular the success of the joint operations already carried out. I commend law enforcement agencies, north and south, for their ongoing commitment to tackling organised crime and paramilitarism”
Note to Editors:
1. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters provides a framework for increasing and enhancing co-operation on criminal justice matters. Within the framework of the Agreement, the two Ministers oversee co-operation across the range of areas in the criminal justice field.
2. The Joint Agency Task force was a commitment under the Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and implementation Plan. A trilateral ministerial meeting was held in Farmleigh, Dublin, on 21 December 2015 to agree the priorities for the Task Force.
3. The Joint Agency Task Force is led by the police and revenue services and brings together the relevant law enforcement agencies to better co-ordinate strategic and operational actions against cross-border organised crime. It involves senior officers from An Garda Síochána, the PSNI, the Revenue Commissioners and HM Revenue and Customs; it also includes the Criminal Assets Bureau and UK National Crime Agency (who have the primary role in criminal assets recovery) as well as other interested law enforcement services (such as environmental protection agencies and immigration services).