Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
297. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to the commitment in the Programme for Government, the date he plans to bring the general scheme of legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas to give effect to Ireland being fully included in the remit of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. [56381/25]
View answer298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to the commitment in the Programme for Government and answers he gave in Dail Éireann the formal confirmation that has been given to the European Commission that Ireland intends to end its opt out position with respect to membership of the EPPO; when was such an intention communicated to the EU in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government. [56382/25]
View answer301. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legal basis on which Ireland currently engages with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, including any instruments of cooperation, memoranda of understanding, or statutory provisions, including dates and documentary references; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56422/25]
View answer302. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the name, grade and contact point in his Department responsible for Irish liaison with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office; to state whether that post is permanent, seconded, or temporary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56423/25]
View answer303. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of European Public Prosecutor’s Office requests received by Irish authorities; the number of requests complied with in full; the number complied with in part, and the number refused; to include a short description of the reason for any refusal, by year since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56424/25]
View answer304. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to identify any cross-border investigations since 2020 which involved Irish persons, companies or assets and where the European Public Prosecutor’s Office was involved; the current status of each case; the lead authority in Ireland; whether mutual legal assistance or preservation orders were used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56425/25]
View answer305. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the resources, staff numbers, budget lines and training, allocated by his Department and by the State to support cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2024 and to date in 2025; to identify any additional resources required to meet foreseeable demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56426/25]
View answer306. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether there are any outstanding legal, operational or data-sharing barriers that impede timely cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office; if so, to list each barrier and the specific legislative, policy or administrative change proposed to remove it, with an estimated timetable for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56427/25]
View answer307. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department’s formal plans to change, expand or otherwise evolve Ireland’s engagement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office over the next 12 months, including any proposed legislative measures, memoranda of understanding, staff appointments or bilateral arrangements with other Member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56428/25]
View answer308. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will publish, in full, the legal instruments, memoranda and standard operating procedures relied upon for European Public Prosecutor’s Office cooperation; and if not, the reasons why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56429/25]
View answer309. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the oversight arrangements in place in Ireland to ensure European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) requests are handled in accordance with EU law and Irish law; to provide copies of any internal audit or review carried out in the past three years on EPPO cooperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56430/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 297, 298, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 and 309 together.
The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) was established in 2017 under the EU's enhanced cooperation measure to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interest of the European Union.
These crimes are as set out in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law, otherwise known as the PIF Directive.
Ireland decided not to opt in to the EPPO Regulation at that time, given that it represented a departure from our common law model of investigation and prosecution.
Ireland has, however, transposed the PIF Directive and the full suite of measures to investigate and prosecute PIF offences are available to Irish authorities under our domestic structures.
The Government approved the drafting of the General Scheme of legislation to allow Ireland to join EPPO in October 2023. The detailed preparatory work required before the Government makes a formal decision to join EPPO is ongoing.
I can advise the Deputy that, in the meantime, co-operation with the EPPO as a non-participating Member State is operational and working well, and legislative changes required to facilitate Ireland’s cooperation with the EPPO are fully operational as of 1 November 2023.
This was effected by way of amendments to the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008, which enables Irish-EPPO cooperation by creating a legal framework for EPPO to make requests for assistance directly to the State.
Since then, there has been ongoing positive engagement with the EPPO in relation to the processing of mutual legal assistance requests.
The Central Authority for Mutual Assistance in my Department is the contact point for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Central Authority is a permanent unit within the Department’s Service Delivery function and is staffed in accordance with available resources. Staffing levels are reviewed periodically, and I can assure the Deputy that all EPPO requests are handled in accordance with the legislation and are prioritised.
While it would not be appropriate to provide details of individual EPPO cases, I can say that the Central Authority has received in excess of 50 requests from EPPO since 2021, 24 of which have been closed.
I can further assure the Deputy that Irish officials enjoy a positive and collaborative working relationship with the EPPO, and it is expected that this will continue as the work on the legislative and operational aspects of Ireland’s future participation in the EPPO progresses.
The Irish Government remains fully committed to protecting the Union’s financial interests and to providing every support possible to the EPPO as it carries out its very important work.
