Ireland and Britain signed an inter-governmental agreement on co-operation in criminal justice matters in Belfast today.
The deal follows on from the Belfast Agreement and allows for joint ministerial meetings to discuss matters of criminal justice of mutual interest or concern.
Michael McDowell
The agreement is to facilitate more effective co-operation and co-ordination in criminal justice matters. A working group of officials who meet regularly will also be established.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and the British minister for criminal justice, David Hanson, also agreed a work programme focusing on such areas as liaison on drugs, exchanges of information on sex offenders, and personnel exchanges between criminal justice agencies in the two jurisdictions.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr McDowell said: "The agreement will make a practical difference to those people who strive daily to work in the criminal justice area in a fair and effective manner, and to the people they serve.
"Everyone on this island will benefit from closer co-operation between North and South in the fight against crime," Mr McDowell added.