Oireachtas approves international counter-terror legislation

Legislation designed to crack down on terrorism by strengthening international judicial co-operation and the collection of court fines has been passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The principal aim of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill is to allow for Ireland to assist other EU member states in dealing with crisis situations that present a serious and direct physical threat, such as terrorist incidents.

Ireland will be able to establish Special Intervention Units (SIUs) to assist states, which would operate under the responsibility, authority and direction of the assisted state, but only able to operate within the limits of their own national powers.

Other provisions of the legislation include strengthening the role of EU agency Eurojust in exchanging intelligence information about criminality in the EU by giving effect to Council Decision 2009/426/JHA.

It will also allow fines imposed by courts in one member state to be collected in another member state where the person concerned resides or is a citizen. This provision will apply to any fine imposed which is appealable to a criminal court.

Speaking after the legislation was approved, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “As the tragic events in Paris this week have starkly illustrated, all States must stand together in fighting terrorism and international criminality.

“The co-operation and mutual assistance between police authorities in member states is an essential tool in countering terrorism and organised crime. Criminals and terrorists do not operate within the boundaries of any international borders and it is absolutely essential that the measures to tackle criminality and terrorism also operate across these borders.

“The passing by the Oireachtas of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill is therefore very much to be welcomed, in particular in terms of allowing Ireland to give assistance to other Member States deal with terrorist crises and in strengthening the role of the EU’s Eurojust agency in exchanging intelligence on criminal matters.”