§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what machinery exists to obtain the return from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom of a suspect for questioning by police in relation to a serious criminal offence committed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe procedure for the return of fugitives to and from the Republic of Ireland is governed by broadly reciprocal legislation under which warrants issued in one jurisdiction may be endorsed and executed in the other. The procedure covers the return of persons accused or convicted of indictable offences, or of offences punishable on summary conviction with six months' imprisonment or more for which there is a corresponding offence under the law of the requested country. Work is in progress under the auspices of the intergovernmental conference on a number of issues relating to this procedure.