§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Attorney-General how many extradition warrants served on the Garda by or on behalf of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland police forces over the past three years have resulted in the person whose extradition was being sought being delivered to the United Kingdom authorities within(a) one month, (b) two months, (c) three months and (d) six months, or over, of the warrant being served.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere have been 22 persons in respect of whom extradition warrants have been delivered to the Garda since 1 November 1991 by the police forces of the United Kingdom, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and who have to date been returned to the United Kingdom on the foot of those warrants.
Of these 22, six were returned within one month, six were returned within two months, one was returned within three months, five were returned within six months and one was returned after more than six months.
In respect of the remaining three, there has not been time to ascertain the precise period of time that elapsed from the delivery of the warrant to the return of the person in question. Central records are not maintained in respect of every aspect of each such case. The records that have already been examined indicate, however, that the period was approximately six months in one case and less than six months in the other two cases.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Attorney-General (1) if officials of his Department have had discussions with Arthur F. Plunkett in the office of the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic about the extradition warrants served on the Garda Attorney-General by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in respect of Brendan Smyth;
(2) on which dates officials of his Department spoke to Mr. Matt Russell in the Department of the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic about the extradition warrant issued by the RUC in the case of Brendan Smyth;
(3) on how many occasions between I April 1993 and 1 February 1994 officials of his Department spoke to Mr. 38W Matt Russell in the Department of the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic;
(4) on what dates between 1 April 1993 and 1 February 1994 officials of his Department had discussions with Arthur F. Plunkett in the office of the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is not customary for the United Kingdom to identify officials of a foreign Administration with whom United Kingdom officials have been in contact on departmental business.
Officials of my Department had regular contacts with the Irish Attorney-General's Office from 1 April 1993 to 1 February 1994 on extradition and other matters.
They spoke to the Irish Attorney-General's Office concerning the case of Brendan Smyth on 20 September 1993, 14 October 1993, 18 November 1993 and 6 December 1993.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Attorney-General what representations his Department received from the Catholic Church in respect of Brendan Smyth; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNone.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Attorney-General how many extradition warrants have been served on the Gardai by or on behalf of United Kingdom and Northern Ireland police forces which relate to child sex abuse cases over the past three years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince 1 November 1991, extradition warrants have been delivered by the police forces of the United Kingdom, including the RUC in respect of five persons whose return to the United Kingdom was sought for offences involving children under 14 years old.