asked the Minister for Justice the Government's attitude to the Belgian Prime Minister's idea of a European-wide extradition code; and if the matter will be pursued at the next Justice Minister's meeting of the EC.

A Europe-wide extradition code is already provided for in the European Convention on Extradition to which the great majority of the member states of the European Community, including Ireland, are parties.

The subject of extradition was discussed at the meeting of EC Ministers for the Interior/Justice which took place in Athens on Friday, 9 December and it can be assumed that it will continue to be a matter of discussion at future meetings of these Ministers.

The Government are quite prepared to consider any proposals, designed to improve co-operation between member states in the matter of extradition, which are put forward by the Belgian Government or indeed by any of our European partners.