Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Conclusion 10

Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit Published 28 Apr 2021 Paragraph 76 Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We are heartened to see an agreement providing for reciprocal transfers of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data. That agreement will help to protect people in Northern Ireland against serious crime and terrorism by allowing UK law enforcement agencies to exchange data on serious criminals with their counterparts in EU Member States as well as enabling UK and Irish law enforcement agencies to share relevant information.

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit (HC 766), paragraph 76, 28 April 2021

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 5 July 2021 (deadline 28 June 2021).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government response sets out how the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) arrangements operate and says it will "take steps to address any issues should they arise", while giving a mostly non-committal reply on several recommendations.

  • On the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, the government says it was convened on 24 June 2021 in Dublin, and "It was agreed that the next BIIGC should take place in London in November."
  • On inviting Northern Ireland Executive representatives to the Specialised Committee, the government says it values their perspective, but "final discretion in any specific instance as regards attendance would be held by the UK co-chair".
  • On a review of extradition after two years, the response does not commit to one. It says it will "continue to work closely" with partners to monitor the arrangements and "take steps to address any issues should they arise".
  • On a Northern Ireland centre of excellence, the government says it "looks forward to reviewing any proposed plans" from the PSNI, the Department of Justice and other agencies.

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