Ireland urges Cameron not to ditch EU arrest deal

Government warns British action could undermine efforts to tackle terrorism

Minister for Justice Frances Fitxgerald has expressed concerns over Britain withdrawing from the arrest scheme to the UK  government. Photograph: Alan Betson
Minister for Justice Frances Fitxgerald has expressed concerns over Britain withdrawing from the arrest scheme to the UK government. Photograph: Alan Betson

Ireland has urged Britain not to ditch European Union laws allowing suspected criminals to be arrested in other member states, saying it would undermine bilateral efforts to tackle terrorism. The British government intends to include the European arrest warrant in a package of EU justice and policing measures that it will jettison.

A statement from the Department of Justice said Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald had raised concerns about the risk of Britain withdrawing from the scheme on a number of occasions with the UK government.