IRISH RATIFICATION OF US-EU EXTRADITION AND MUTUAL

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000021 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KTIA CJAN PGOV PREL EI SUBJECT: IRISH RATIFICATION OF US-EU EXTRADITION AND MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS REF: A. STATE 01199 ¶B. PROPP/PIERCE E-MAIL 11/07/2008 ¶1. POLOFF spoke on January 13 with Louise Hartigan, EU Division, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),who is shepherding the extradition and legal mutual assistance agreements through the final administrative processes required prior to the signing of instruments. According to Hartigan, DFA has prepared a "Memorandum for Government" that will be sent to Cabinet requesting permission for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign the instruments. She said that the memorandum had been circulated to other government departments -- for information only -- the morning of January 13. Procedural rules, she noted, require that DFA wait for two weeks following circulation to other departments before submitting the memorandum to Cabinet. Hartigan hopes the memorandum will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on January 27. Once Cabinet approves the memorandum, DFA can begin drawing up the instruments. Hartigan assured POLOFF that the political decisions have all been made and that only formal procedural requirements remained. Her goal, she said, was to begin drawing up the instruments by the end of January. FOLEY