The Garda Commissioner has said he hopes to work towards a bilateral agreement with police in Dubai to advance the investigation into the Kinahan organised crime group, following his visit to the United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
Drew Harris confirmed that he had invited detectives from Dubai's police service to visit Dublin to share "information and intelligence" on the Kinahan group.
Commissioner Harris said, since his return from Dubai, there had already been an exchange of letters between himself and Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, who is commander-in-chief of the police service there.
He said this demonstrated a sense of purpose and a wish within both organisations to advance the investigation against the Kinahan group "forthwith".
"Last week I had the privilege of visiting Dubai Police. Obviously, elements of the Kinahan organised crime gang are based there, so it's in our interests as a police service and actually in bringing individuals to justice that we have a good relationship with Dubai Police. I think last week was a really important step," he said.
"I think we can have a very positive partnership with them, so the invitation has been made for them to visit Dublin so we can share information and intelligence and then obviously work towards a bilateral agreement with the Dubai police in terms of advancing our investigations."
Commissioner Harris said he believes "very significant progress" has been made in the garda investigation into the Kinahan organised crime group through his visit to the UAE last week.
GRA ballot
Commissioner Harris also reiterated his intention to remain in his position, despite the result of a ballot of members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in which 98.7% of them expressed no confidence in him.
He said he recognised that GRA members were not happy, but that it was his responsibility to set priorities and to make decisions.
"I would say that we are always open to conversation and negotiation," he said.
"We want to get to a new roster and we also want to resolve the other issues that have been raised."
Commissioner Harris said he had "no interest whatsoever" in being Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He said he regarded his position as Garda Commissioner as a privilege.
"I have a job to finish here," he said.
He was speaking at the re-opening of a refurbished garda station at Rathcormac in north Co Cork.
Speaking at the same event, Justice Minister Helen McEntee reiterated her support for the Garda Commissioner.
She said Commissioner Harris had her support and the support of the Taoiseach and the Government.
No confidence vote
In relation to the vote of no confidence in Commissioner Harris, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the Garda Commissioner is an appointee of the Government and he has their full confidence.
"That is not to say there are not issues to be resolved and there is a way of doing that and I understand the Minister for Justice is talking to the Commissioner on that issue," he said.
"But I believe the confidence vote in him is not the way to resolve this.
"Industrial disputes happen in all organisations, and the gardaí fought very hard for the right to go to the WRC and I think they should exercise that right now."
Mr Varadkar said he can understand why gardaí want to keep the old roster, but he said he understands why Commissioner Harris wants to return to the old agreed roster.
"Because gardaí were around more often when we needed them and that is in the interests of the public too," Mr Varadkar said.
"There is always room for compromise and this isn't the way to do that and I would ask gardaí to exercise the right to go to the WRC," he added.
Additional reporting Cathy Halloran
