The Garda network of overseas liaison officers is to be expanded after a request from the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was approved by the Government.

As a result, new Garda positions are to be created in the US capital Washington DC and in the Colombian capital Bogota.

Cooperation

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the increasingly global character of organised crime and terrorism meant there was a need for deep international cooperation among police and law enforcement agencies around the world.

“The overseas liaison officer network is a key element of An Garda Síochána’s approach to combating international criminal and terrorist organisations,” he said.

Capacity

The new posts will expand the number of overseas Garda liaison network postings from four to six. Officers are already posted in London, Paris, Madrid and the Hague.

The minister said the new roles would provide Gardaí with an important increase in capacity and would cover North, South and Central America.