Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Wednesday 8th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

It is certainly true that dissident republican terrorist groupings have the aspiration to attack in Great Britain. Their main focus remains Northern Ireland, but they do have that capability and lethal intent. Every effort is being made to counter their activities, including their activities south of the border, through the co-operation that now exists between the police services and other security organisations in the north and the south.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

6. What discussions she has had with the Irish Government on cross-border efforts to stop organised crime and terrorism.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa Villiers)]

In December, as part of the implementation of the “Fresh Start” agreement, I attended a meeting with the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive at which we agreed on new measures to enhance co-operation on cross-border organised crime.

[Tom Pursglove]

I strongly welcome the arrangements that have been agreed as part of the “Fresh Start” agreement, but does the Secretary of State agree that there must be both strategic and operational co-operation to dismantle gangs and their activities?

[Mrs Villiers]

I would agree, and that is exactly what is happening. The new joint agency taskforce established as a result of the “Fresh Start” agreement enables exactly that kind of operational co-operation on cross-border crimes such as fuel laundering, human trafficking and drug smuggling, and I welcome the progress that has been made on that.