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Statement by Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, on judgement in the case of an application for a provisional arrest warrant in relation to Edward Snowden
The courts are, of course, independent in the exercise of their functions and it is for the courts to determine any applications that come before them pursuant to Section 27 of the Extradition Act for the issuing of an Arrest Warrant in respect of any person.
The determination of the court does not in any way prevent a fresh application being made for a provisional Arrest Warrant, taking into account the findings of the court. The Irish and US authorities have remained in close contact about this matter and, for its part, the Government will take any action open to it to ensure that the State's obligations in relation to extradition arrangements are met.
It should be noted that what the court in its judgement today addressed was the issuing of an Arrest Warrant on the basis of specific information, rather than a determination as to whether an individual should or should not be extradited