Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DUBLIN223
2008-04-29 10:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

IRELAND ACCEPTS CUBAN REFUGEES; PASSES MUTUAL LEGAL

Tags:  PREL PGOV PREF CJAN EUN KCRM KJUS KTIA KFRD KWMN EI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0530
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHDL #0223 1201015
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291015Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9093
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST 0730
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0013
UNCLAS DUBLIN 000223 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF CJAN EUN KCRM KJUS KTIA KFRD KWMN EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ACCEPTS CUBAN REFUGEES; PASSES MUTUAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION

REFS: (A) DUBLIN 110
(B) STATE 21451
(C) 07 DUBLIN 548
(D) 06 STATE 172627

-------
Summary
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UNCLAS DUBLIN 000223

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF CJAN EUN KCRM KJUS KTIA KFRD KWMN EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ACCEPTS CUBAN REFUGEES; PASSES MUTUAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION

REFS: (A) DUBLIN 110
(B) STATE 21451
(C) 07 DUBLIN 548
(D) 06 STATE 172627

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Sean Aylward, Secretary General of the Irish Department of
Justice, Equality, and Law Reform told the Embassy April 22 that the
way had been cleared to immediately resettle 11 Cuban refugees who
have been sheltering at Guantanamo. He added that the Criminal
Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill, which will give effect to a Mutual
Legal Assistance Treaty with the U.S., had been passed by both
houses of the Parliament. End summary.

--------------
Cuban Refugees
--------------


2. (SBU) Responding to a call for assistance in late-2006 (Ref D),
the Post has been negotiating with the Department of Justice to
accept Cuban refugees being protected at the U.S. Naval Station at
Guantanamo. In July 2007, the Irish agreed to begin the process to
resettle ten refugees (Ref C). During the April 22 meeting, Aylward
announced that the final hurdles had been resolved with immigration
and police officials, and that the refugees (now 11 with the birth
of a baby),would travel to Ireland for permanent resettlement the
week of April 28. (Comment: The Irish do not intend to publicize
this resettlement initiative, viewing it as part of Ireland's
routine refugee resettlement program, which accepts about 200
individuals annually. Among other concerns, the Irish Government is
afraid the public may confuse the refugees at Guantanamo with
detainees. End comment.)

-------------- -
Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
-------------- -


3. (U) The Post has been urging the Irish Government for the
better part of a year and a half to speed up enactment of
legislation that would enable Ireland to sign a mutual legal
assistance treaty with the U.S. (Refs A and B). (Note: Legal
provisions to enable Ireland to sign a new extradition treaty with
the U.S. were enacted in the European Arrest Warrant Act, 2003. End
note.) At the April 22 meeting, Aylward notified EMBOFFs that the
Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill, which will give effect to
a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, had been passed by both houses of
the Oireachtas (Parliament) and had been sent to the President for
her signature; a mere formality in the case of this legislation,
Aylward noted. The President is expected to sign the legislation
during the week of April 28. The Act will come into effect 30 days
thereafter. (Comment: Enactment of this piece of legislation will
legally empower Ireland to exchange instruments of ratification for
both extradition and mutual legal assistance with the U.S. End
comment.)

Foley