Anti-terror law to see 10-year jail sentences

New anti-terrorism measures, expected to become law within weeks, will hand out jail sentences of up to 10 years for recruiting, training or promoting terrorism.

The legislation will bring Ireland into line with most of the EU, which adopted similar legislation some time ago.

Foreign ministers agreed to extend the EU’s foreign service, including giving it a fledgling intelligence dimension for the first time, following the Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris. Also, they are to take the battle against radicalisation to the Muslim world, liaising with and aiding countries in the fight against extremism.

Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said it was important to improve relations with the Ireland’s Muslim population, explaining that the response to the tragedy should not be just security-based.

“A policy of integration through education [and] culture is very important to ensure communities are very much involved in Irish society”, he said.

Mr Flanagan said he expected the new legislation would be “on the books in a matter of weeks”.

He pointed out the state has the power to to withdraw passports and citizenship from naturalised citizens believed to pose a threat to national security or to the security of another country.

Mr Flanagan urged the Irish members of the European Parliament to support a move to record and retain the data of any air passenger entering or leaving the EU, including EU citizens.

The head of the EU’s foreign service, Federica Mogherini, said the ministers had agreed to co-ordinate much more actively in sharing information and intelligence, not just between themselves, but with countries in the Arab world, North Africa, Turkey, the Mediterranean and Asia.

They would also appoint an anti-terror co-ordinator in EU embassies. Asked if this was a spy service, Ms Mogherini said embassies frequently had such a person.

“This would be a professional figure to liaise with security figures in the countries where we have delegations, concentrating mainly on capacity-building and co-operating at the information level”, she said.

For the first time, the foreign ministers held a meeting with the EU anti-terrorism co-ordinator and held discussions with representatives of the League of Arab Nations.

“We need to work on developing an alliance, a dialogue with these countries and avoid any perception of a clash. We all face the same threat, inside the EU and outside, Ms Mogherini said.

The aim is to build expertise, contribute towards training in countries that need it and to work more on communications.

The European Commission is expected to draw up a blueprint that will go to EU leaders on February 19.