Department of Justice and Equality annual report 2013.

摘要

EU Presidency 2013ud(p.12) Council agreement was reached on the next four-year EU Action Plan on Drugs and on the crime priorities to be tackled by Europol in the next four-year policy cycle on organised crime.udAn EU wide ban was agreed on the manufacturing and marketing of the psychoactive substance 4-methylamphetamine– so called 4-MA. Between 2010 and 2012, this substance was linked to 21 fatalities in four Member States. The decision represents a further step in the European response to tackling the growth in harmful new psychoactive substances across Europeudud(P.22) Tackling human trafficking, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and misuse of drugs, including alcohol.udA number of agencies continue to play a key role in implementation of the National Substance Misuse Strategy, including An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners, who prioritise drug law enforcement and develop strategies targeting those involved in drug supply activity. The Local and Regional Drug Task Forces also further complement the work of the law enforcement agencies in tackling drug supply at local and regional levels.udud(p.23)udIn March 2013 the Minister published the Annual Report for 2012 on the operation of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003. The European Arrest Warrant provides for a speedy extradition process within the European Union.149 warrants received by Ireland resulted in the surrender of persons in 2012 to other Member States of the European Union. Ireland received 313 European Arrest Warrants in 2012 and offences cited included murder, rape, drugs trafficking and assault/robbery. Ireland issued 88 warrants in 2012 and 52 Irish issued warrants resulted in surrenders to Ireland during the year.ududIn January 2013, the Minister signed, on behalf of the Irish Government, a Bilateral Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of Romania on cooperation in combating serious crime. The purpose of the Agreement is to further facilitate the exchange of information on serious crimes such as drug trafficking, organised crime, money laundering, and terrorism. The Agreement also provides for cooperation by both parties in training initiatives to share expertise in the areas of prevention, detection and investigation of criminal activities, and provides for the possible secondment or exchange of law enforcement personnel.