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Roundup: Justice ministers of Ireland, Northern Ireland meet to further cooperation

Xinhua, November 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Justice ministers of Ireland and Northern Ireland met in Dublin on Wednesday to discuss ongoing north-south cooperation in policing and criminal justice matters.

During the meeting, the two ministers received the latest report from the Joint Agency Task Force, which details the activity undertaken by the new task force structure since its launch last year.

The two ministers also took the opportunity to consider further the implications of Britain's decision to leave the European Union (EU) on north-south policing and criminal justice cooperation.

"We have identified a range of shared priorities in the area of justice and policing cooperation that are supported by EU measures, including the European Arrest Warrant, mutual legal assistance, civil justice measures and information-sharing," said a statement issued after the meeting.

"We will continue to work together to ensure that our close cooperation in these areas can be maintained into the future," the statement said.

According to the statement, the law enforcement agencies in both jurisdictions are delivering targeted operations on criminal activities that have a serious impact on lives and in communities -- rural crime, drugs, smuggling, child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, expressed her support for the close working relationship between all aspects of the criminal justice systems between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"There is a high degree of dynamic cooperation at all levels between our criminal justice systems," Fitzgerald said.

The two ministers had a very productive discussion on actions to address the challenges the two sides face in combating crime, managing offenders and supporting victims, she said.

"These are shared challenges and we will continue to cooperate in coming up with positive actions to keeping communities safe," she added.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, Claire Sugden, emphasized the high value that she places on the collaborative work of the various criminal justice organizations.

The two sides are encouraged "by their shared interest in problem solving justice and the focus on addressing the wider societal issues that can lead to offending behaviour," Sugden said. Endit