Ireland has called for advanced passenger information from all air and sea ports to be shared by European countries as part of a joint approach to crack down on international terrorism and organised crime.

The move for a more co-ordinated drive by EU member states is sparked by fears of jihadi fighters returning home from conflict zones to radicalise a new generation of terrorists.

It follows a decision by Ireland and Britain to share their intelligence on passengers on selected flights.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald told a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg this was a tool of proven potential.

She said she and her colleagues must convince those opposed to this system that their shared aim was to ensure the safety of all EU citizens.

She made the call during a top priority debate on the threat posed by foreign fighters and proposals for measures to combat the challenges of those travelling to conflict zones.

Last August the Irish Independent disclosed that a joint jihadi watch list on suspected foreign fighters was being operated by the Irish and British authorities to prevent terrorists slipping into either jurisdiction through a back door route.

Information supplied to the Government here by the Garda Special Branch and military intelligence indicated that up to 30 jihadis had been using Ireland as a base for regular trips to Syria and Iraq.

Gardai have stepped up their surveillance efforts, linked to an EU-wide move to track their movements and identify associates as fears grow over the radicalisation and security risks when they return home.

Officers are also forging closer connections with the Muslim community here to unearth any signs that the fighters are trying to promote radicalisation.

But, so far, there is no indication that recruitment in this country is on the scale seen elsewhere in the EU. And the overall assessment is that the threat to Ireland from international terrorism remains low.

The minister said strengthening the security of national and international borders was a key element in protecting our citizens from terrorist threats and the tracking and early identification of terrorists would provide a major boost towards achieving that objective.

She pressed for a multi-dimensional approach to dealing with terrorism and targeted foreign fighters.

Irish Independent