Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what practical arrangements will be made for co-operation between the National Crime Agency and security services in the Irish Republic when that agency becomes fully operational in Northern Ireland.

The Crime and Courts Act 2013 (National Crime Agency and Proceeds of Crime) (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 was laid before Parliament on 29 January. The Order makes provision for the National Crime Agency to operate in Northern Ireland with full powers. If approved by each House, it will allow NCA officers to be able to exercise constable powers and it also provides the NCA the ability to recover criminal assets in relation to offences that are devolved, together with the ability to request the recovery of assets overseas in civil recovery cases.

This will make Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK a safer place and means the most serious criminals can be pursued wherever they are. The NCA has dedicated resources currently working with Irish law enforcement agencies to tackle the threat from organised crime that affects both our countries.