Ireland鈥檚 European Commissioner Michael McGrath said he is 鈥渧ery anxious鈥 to extend agreements on judicial cooperation with the UAE and other countries.
In a precedent setting case, Daniel Kinahan鈥檚 right hand man Sean McGovern was flown back from the UAE to Ireland last month. He was then charged with murder and four gangland offences in a sitting at the Special Criminal Court.
The thug was the first to be extradited from the country that until recently was seen as a safe haven for Irish criminals.
Mr McGrath, who is EU Commissioner for Justice, said he is currently working to extend a relationship with the UAE.
Asked about the possible extradition of Daniel Kinahan in Brussels earlier this week, Commissioner McGrath said: 鈥淚 can’t get into individual cases but my responsibility as justice commissioner does extend to cooperation with third countries, countries outside the EU.
鈥淲e are very anxious and I鈥檓 personally determined to extend a network of agreements that we have on judicial cooperation with third countries.鈥
The Commissioner said in recent months there have been talks involving his team and the UAE, and in April he visited the country.
He believes this has created 鈥渁 better relationship in progress on these issues鈥.
Mr McGrath added: 鈥淢y focus as justice commissioner is extending the network of agreements that we can develop with third countries to improve judicial operations.
鈥淭he UAE would be on the list of countries that I would like to improve the level of cooperation with. That compliments the work that member states are doing with the successful completion of the extradition agreement with Ireland and the UAE.鈥
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.