No. 45 of 2003 - European Arrest Warrant Act 2003
What does this Law do?
The Act gives effect to the EU Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant.
It enables Ireland to operate the European arrest warrant with effect from 1 January 2004 along with other Member States that have implemented the Framework Decision in their national law. The purpose of the Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant is to replace the existing extradition arrangements between the EU Member States. The Framework Decision is based on the principle of mutual recognition and provides that each national judicial authority should recognise requests for the surrender of a person, made by the judicial authority of another Member State.
The arrangements under the arrest warrant operate primarily at the level of the courts in the Member States. In Ireland, the High Court decides on requests received here. In order to expedite the surrender process specific time frames for taking decisions by the courts apply under the European arrest warrant.
The Act contains a wide and comprehensive range of safeguards to protect the interests of the arrested person, for example, no one may be surrendered where that would infringe their rights under the Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights. All arrested persons have a right to legal advice and representation
Contact Department: Department of Justice. Equality & Law Reform
Signed by the President on: 28.12.03