Flanagan disappointed by Irish MEPs’ opposition to air passenger data move

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has said he is “disappointed” a number of Irish MEPs have opposed a new European Union directive on exchanging air passenger information, which is aimed at tackling terrorism.

Speaking yesterday in Brussels, Mr Flanagan said he believed it was important “every effort” was made to exchange information within the EU.

“I am disappointed that some of the Irish members of the European Parliament have expressed reservations.

“I believe that it is important that every effort be made to exchange information, particularly in times of crisis in Europe, where there is a terrorist threat,” he said.

“I’m pleased that the four Fine Gael MEPs, my colleagues, are taking an initiative in that regard, and I would hope that the parliament as a whole acts on this matter positively and actively at the earliest opportunity.”

While Fine Gael has backed the directive in the parliament, Sinn Féin’s three MEPs are opposed to the proposal, while a number of Independent MEPs have questioned the directive.

Data privacy concerns

The European Commission first published the passenger name records proposal in February 2011, but it has become stuck in the EU legislative process due to opposition from the

parliament over data privacy concerns.

The proposal aims to improve the pooling of information between countries regarding the details of passengers travelling through EU airports. The issue has received renewed attention since the attacks in France. The issue of terrorism dominated a meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in the Latvian capital, Riga, yesterday that was attended by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.

Ms Fitzgerald called for a “concerted, comprehensive and sustained” response to the rise in radicalisation and the terrorist threat facing the EU, pointing out that up to 5,000 EU citizens may have travelled to the Middle East to fight as jihadists.

The Minister highlighted the “urgent need” for an EU-wide database of passenger name record data as a means of tracking travel arrangements of suspected terrorists. She also called on social media providers to work with governments and law enforcement authorities to tackle terrorism.