Council of the European Union Decision: Motions
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-22
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I thank Senators Gallagher, Kelleher and Murphy for their support and, indeed, the support of their parties. I am pleased to see that there is broad agreement across the House that this PNR data regime is important for the purpose of investigating serious crime and terrorist activity. One of the things that is most notable about crime in the past decade or 20 years is that it has become an extraordinarily international business. It is an activity that knows no jurisdiction or no boundaries. People who want to commit serious criminal activity do so by seeking to undermine the borders and the rules we have in different jurisdictions. It is very important that, as a country and as part of the European Union, we put in place measures that enable co-operation not just between countries within the European Union, but also on a broader scale so that we can combat collectively the attempts of serious criminals to get involved in and effect serious criminal activity.
I note the caveats that Senator Murphy has set out. Obviously, it is important that while we are sharing information, we also protect fundamental rights. I believe that is provided for in the PNR agreements. It is also the case that I will not recommend that we opt in to a Protocol 21 proposal unless I think it is in Ireland’s best interest. I think we are all agreed here that this is in Ireland’s best interest. If there is a proposal that comes under Protocol 21 that I do not believe is in Ireland’s best interest, I will not opt in to it, and that has happened in the past.
In terms of how Ireland’s interest is represented, it is through democracy - it is through the Members of this House and Dáil Éireann. They decide whether Ireland should opt in to Protocol 21 opt-ins. That is the democratic protection we have as a result of the Protocol 21 procedure that is available under the Lisbon treaty.
I again thank Senators and colleagues for their contributions. I very much appreciate their support.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-22