The Ministers for Justice on both sides of the border held a detailed telephone conversation this afternoon, and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.
The Ministers congratulated each other on their respective appointments and expressed hope that they could meet in person at the North South Ministerial Council, due to take place next week.
In respect of the challenges posed by Covid-19 in both jurisdictions, Minister McEntee said,
In recent months, the close cooperation between police forces on both sides of the border has been a key element of policing the Covid crisis. Commissioner Harris and Chief Constable Simon Byrne are in regular contact and there has been extensive cooperation. I look forward to this cooperation continuing as we all work together to tackle this virus.
Referring to the ongoing work of the Independent Reporting Commission, Minister McEntee said,
I am glad to hear that the valuable work of the Independent Reporting Commission is continuing and they remain on course for publication of their third report later this year. An ambitious target was set in the Fresh Start agreement in 2015, and I believe that we must remain ambitious in how we tackle paramilitarism.
The twin track approach espoused by the IRC, which involves a criminal justice response coupled with tackling the wider socio-economic factors that can lead to criminality, is well-founded and we are already very committed to such an approach. If we want to get to the core of criminality, we need to deal with the entrenched issues in communities that can lead to criminal behaviour.
Minister McEntee also noted the last meeting between both Ministers for Justices under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-Operation on Criminal Justice Matters took place in November 2016 and said she is looking forward to future engagement with Minister Long.
The Ministers also discussed Brexit, with Minister McEntee expressing a number of concerns as the end of the transition period approaches,
We are concerned that there will be no UK EU agreement in place by the end of the transition period, particularly given that an extension to the transition period was not requested. It is very much to be desired that a detailed and comprehensive agreement between the UK and the EU will be in place by end December 2020 for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
If the existing excellent level of cooperation between An Garda Síochana and the PSNI is undermined, that poses a real threat to the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.
The threat of a resurgence in paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland is very real, and the ability to counter that threat could be seriously undermined with the loss of the toolbox provided for by EU instruments.