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Ministers back extradition deal with UAE

The Government has approved plans for Ireland to sign bilateral treaties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on extradition and mutual legal assistance.

Dáil approval will now be sought before the domestic procedures necessary to allow the treaties to enter into force are completed.

The two agreements are aimed at improving the effectiveness of co-operation between Ireland and the UAE in fighting crime and facilitating extradition.

‘Appropriate safeguards’

The Department of Justice says that the treaties negotiated are in line with national legislation on extradition and mutual legal assistance, and contain “the appropriate safeguards” to ensure a high level of protection for human rights.

“Given the increasingly transnational nature of organised crime, it is imperative that Ireland strategically strengthens judicial co-operation in criminal matters with other countries as part of our efforts to combat this serious global threat,” said Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

The department says that there is already “excellent” co-operation between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in the UAE, with a garda liaison officer deployed to Abu Dhabi last year.

Dubai police also travelled to Dublin recently to assist members of the gardaí with an organised-crime investigation arising from the seizure of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew off the coast of Waterford.