EU crime teams set to be given go-ahead
The teams made up of police, customs and outside experts will target serious EU-wide criminal activity, such as terrorism and drug trafficking.
The Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003 has been passed by the Seanad and will now go to the Dáil, where it is expected to be pushed through quickly.
The Bill will put in place the legal framework for the operation of the bodies in Ireland.
The joint investigation teams are being set up to address obstacles facing individual countries trying to combat crimes, which often involve several states.
Ireland will find the cross-border teams particularly helpful in targeting more serious crimes such as smuggling and drug trafficking.
Much of the cannabis and cocaine that comes to Ireland is shipped from Spain, by Irish traffickers based there.
The vast majority of the heroin comes through Britain, mainly London, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Most of the ecstasy comes via Netherlands, Belgium and France. Ports in these three countries are also often used to ship drugs, such as cannabis.
In addition, airports in Germany have been used by Nigerian traffickers moving cannabis herb from South Africa to here.
Garda drug sources said yesterday that joint investigation teams involving police and customs from these countries would be extremely helpful in combating the problem.
The EU police agency Europol will also be able to take part in the teams once minor changes are made to EU law.
Investigation teams will also be set up to target the multi-million euro trade in smuggling in the EU, which is a major problem between the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Gardaí and the PSNI, as well as customs on both sides of the border, will be able to investigate more thoroughly the illicit movement of diesel, cigarettes, counterfeit goods and alcohol.
Much of this trade is controlled by paramilitary organisations.
Teams in Ireland, Britain and beyond will be able to target terrorist groups such as the Real IRA and Continuity IRA.
The teams will also investigate cross-Border fraud, money laundering and human trafficking which is earning criminals colossal amounts of money in the EU.
The Garda Commissioner will also be able to bring in outside experts, who are not State officers, on to the teams.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Willie O'Dea told the Seanad that outside specialists could include fingerprint experts, computer experts, accountants, statisticians and pornography investigators.
Mr O'Dea said the joint investigation teams could only be set up for a specific purpose and for a limited time period.
Costs would be shared between the participating countries, he said.
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