THE Minister for Justice has said European children would be safer as a result of decisions taken by EU justice and home affairs ministers in Dublin Castle this week.
Mrs Owen said that the decision to extend the mandate of the Europol Drugs Unit to include the exchange and analysis of information on trafficking in human beings, would have "far reaching effects on the safety of children in Europe".
Questioned yesterday about Ireland lagging behind the UK in outlawing sex tourism, Mrs Owen said that legislation was currently before the Dail. "Committee stage was to be taken earlier this week and I understand the Opposition spokesperson wasn't available and therefore the meeting had to be cancelled," she said. Responding, Fianna Fail said its justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, was attending a plenary session of the British Irish Inter Parliamentary Body in Bath.
The EU ministers signed a convention on extradition between EU member states. Mrs Owen said it was "to speed up and simplify extradition proceedings".
She welcomed provisions for extraditing persons involved in organised crime, as well as restrictions on political offences.
"It also lays down that extradition may not be refused on the grounds that the person claimed is a national of the requested member state. This principle cannot, however, be applied immediately in all member states since the extradition of nationals in some states is prohibited under their Constitution."