The European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022 addresses issues identified in formal EU infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission against Ireland and other member states in 2020.

The bill completed the second stage yesterday and has now been referred to the Oireachtas select committee on justice.

James Browne, minister of state at the Department of Justice, told TDs: “Timely enactment of the bill will ensure that Ireland is not referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union and will not become liable for financial penalties.”

The bill will also make a number of further amendments to the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 “to ensure there is a continued efficient operation of European arrest warrant system within the State,” Mr Browne added.

Former Labour leader Brendan Howlin said: “I am long enough in this House to remember the tortuous and cumbersome extradition procedure that used to exist prior to the enactment on foot of an EU framework directive of the European arrest warrant legislation.

“The minister of state is far too young to remember any of that, but I remember debates in this House and major battles in the courts before criminals could be extradited from here. It was a most welcome innovation, which began to match the pan-European law enforcement capacity with the growing pan-European and transglobal nature of crime.”