The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD has today announced the publication of a Europol Bill 2012., the main purpose of which is to implement into Irish law the EU Council Decision of 6 April 2009 establishing the European Police Office (Europol).
Europol’s activities can be broadly categorised as information management on the one hand and semi-operational tasks on the other. Europol interacts with member states through national units which each state must establish. The national unit in Ireland is a unit within the Garda Síochána.
The 2009 decision repeals and replaces the Europol Convention and Protocols. While incorporating the provisions of the Convention and its Protocols, the Council Decision also introduces some new features to Europol including an extension to Europol’s mandate.