Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen T.D.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen T.D., welcomed today's certification by President Bush which will enable training and/or exchange programmes to take place between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the FBI.

"The President and the US Government are acknowledging the considerable advances which are being made in implementing the recommendations of the Patten Report. This development is fully in accordance with the Irish Government's endorsement of the new policing arrangements which were agreed at Weston Park"

"I am pleased that members of the new Police Service will now be able to avail of training opportunities with the FBI. The provision of international training can only help to further transform policing in Northern Ireland."

Note for editors:

In 1999, the US Congress halted funding for training or exchange programmes conducted by the FBI for the RUC until such time as the President submitted certification that, inter alia, (i) the British and Irish Governments were committed to assisting in the full implementation of the Patten recommendations, (ii) training programmes for the RUC or any successor organisations would include a significant human rights component, and (iii) vetting procedures would be established to ensure that RUC members who may have committed or condoned violations of human rights would not take part in such training programmes.

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