'Doing Justice' To Cross Border Partnership

The first formal meeting of the cross-border Criminal Justice Ministerial Group has just been held in Carlingford, Co Louth.

Stormont Justice Minister David Ford (pictured) met Irish Minister Dermot Ahern to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

Included on the agenda were cross border issues in relation to sex offenders, forensic science services, youth justice, management of offenders and support for victims of crime. Ministers agreed a work programme setting out the key priorities for the next twelve months.

Speaking after the meeting David Ford said: "I am committed to working closely with Dermot Ahern to drive forward a range of criminal justice initiatives to make Ireland, both North and South, a better and safer place to live.

"In addition to the formal meetings under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Criminal Justice Co-operation, we and our officials will continue to have informal meetings as appropriate to maximise the benefits of cross-border co-operation to tackle crime in both parts of the island.

"The devolution of policing and justice powers provides an opportunity to enhance the working relationship with the Irish government," he said, noting that co-operation between criminal justice agencies is critical.

"Both Dermot and I are committed to working closely together to ensure that criminals do not use the border to escape justice."

For his part, Dermot Ahern said: "This was a very useful meeting. There is a real closeness in North/South relations in the justice and policing area that can only be to the benefit of the wider public on both sides of the border.

"As David says, we are determined that the border not be used by criminals to evade justice and policing co-operation to this end remains a focus for our efforts.

"We are also promoting engagement on a strategic level between the various criminal justice agencies with a view to the exchange of expertise, best practice and policy development.

"We face the same challenges and it is important that we share ideas and co-operate in tackling them. I look forward to building on today's meeting and on the excellent work which is already going on."

(BMcC/KMcA)