Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has announced that she has secured additional capital funding of €4m to allow Ireland to participate in the Schengen Information System (SIS II).

SIS II is a centralised secure database used by European countries for maintaining alerts related to border security and law enforcement.

Announcing the funding, Ms Fitzgerald said: "In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, I am determined to press ahead with the necessary steps to allow Ireland to participate fully in the Schengen Information System (SIS II) as quickly as possible.

"Ireland has been a strong supporter of Schengen since our application to join its non-border aspects was approved in 2002.

"But due to the economic situation which began in late 2008 and has prevailed up until very recently, plans to develop the infrastructure to allow us to participate in SIS II had unfortunately to be put on hold.

"I am pleased that I have secured the necessary funding to reactivate those plans," she said.

Ms Fitzgerald emphasised however, that while SIS II would provide a more efficient way of sharing information, gardaí already make full use of the range of information-sharing means available to them, including Interpol, Europol and a bi-lateral information exchange.

Ms Fitzgerald said that while the total timeframe to implement the necessary systems and structures in An Garda Síochána to support the integration with SIS II would be 18-24 months, the initial phases, allowing Ireland to be in a position to receive and broadcast requests, would be achievable within six months of starting the project of implementation.