Justice ministers discuss potential extradition treaty between Ireland and UAE

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee during a Budget 2024 press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin. Picture date: Wednesday October 11, 2023.

A potential extradition treaty between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates was discussed by the Justice Minister and the UAE’s justice minister on Monday.

The two ministers, Helen McEntee and Abdullah Bin Sultan Bin Awad Al Nuaimi, spoke by phone with discussions primarily focusing on co-operation between gardaí and police in Dubai, as well as a potential extradition treaty between the two countries.

In a statement following the call, Ms McEntee said: “As Ministers with responsibility for policing and security in our respective jurisdictions, we discussed ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and Dubai Police, and the possibility of a bilateral treaty on extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance and Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners.” 

Earlier this year, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris travelled to the UAE to meet with government officials as well as the Dubai chief of police as part of efforts to have the leadership of the Kinahan cartel deported.

Ms McEntee said that dealing with organised crime is a “key priority” for the Government, citing recently appointed Garda Liaison Officers in Abu Dhabi and Bangkok.

The Justice Minister added that these liaison officers are an “effective and practical” form of cooperation between government agencies.

“Crime is a global enterprise for many organised crime gangs and some individuals cross borders in an attempt to evade justice,” Ms McEntee said.

“We are working to build upon the positive coalitions built by An Garda Síochána to tackle transnational crime, and are determined that borders will not be barriers to effective criminal justice co-operation.”