Ireland and the United States today inked a new legal cooperation treaty, enhancing the ability of authorities in both countries to pursue and prosecute fugitives.
Outgoing US Secretary of State Ms Madeleine Albright and the Minister for Justice Mr John O'Donoghue signed the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty (MLAT) which will ease police searches, witness transfers, asset seizure and forfeiture and the serving of documents.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "This bilateral treaty ... will bring to a higher plane the already close co-operation which exists between our two countries in the fight against crime."
"Criminals, narcotics traffickers and terorists show no respect for international borders," Ms Albright said after signing the treaty which will likely be her last before leaving office on Saturday.
"This particular treaty cements a bilateral law encforcement relationship that was already excellent," she added.
The United States has negotiated similar pacts with 38 countries since their inception in the 1970s. All set up a formal intergovernmental mechanism for the provision of criminal evidence and other law enforcement activities.
AFP