Press release
Minister Flanagan announces expansion of the overseas Garda Liaison Officer Network
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has today announced expansion of the Garda Liaison Officer Network. At the request of the Garda Commissioner, and following government approval, new Garda positions will be created in Washington DC, United States of America and in Bogota, Colombia.
Minister Flanagan said:
"The increasingly global character of organised crime and terrorism necessitates deep international cooperation among police and law enforcement agencies around the world. The overseas liaison officer network is a key element of An Garda Síochána’s approach to combatting international criminal and terrorist organisations. I and the government are pleased to support the Commissioner’s request to expand that network."
The new posts which have now been agreed for Washington DC and Bogota will expand the number of overseas Garda liaison network postings from four to six. Garda Liaison officers are currently posted in London, Paris, Madrid and the Hague.
The Minister continued:
"Garda Liaison Officers are important roles and enable practical cooperation with police services overseas as well as coordination of operations across borders. These new positions will provide Gardaí with an important increase in capacity and will cover North, South and Central America.
"Arrangements for this positions will now be taken forward by An Garda Síochána in cooperation with my department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In that regard I want to acknowledge in particular the support of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"This step will not only enhance the security of the State, but will also give Ireland a greater input to policy and strategy decisions in these areas internationally, in line with the Government Strategy of a Global Ireland 2025."
ENDS
These assignments will be made in accordance with Section 51 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, which provides that the Commissioner may, subject to the agreement of the government, assign Garda members overseas as Liaison Officers to engage with law enforcement agencies of other States.
Under this provision, a network of four Garda Liaison Officer has previously been created with positions at the Irish embassies in Madrid, Paris, London and The Hague. These Officers have responsibility to liaise with the police services of the country where they are assigned or, in the case of the assignment to The Hague, that country and two immediate neighbours.
The new position in Washington DC will have responsibility for the USA and Canada, and the new position in Bogota will involve responsibility for South and Central America, including Mexico.