Daniel Kinahan, 49, was arrested in Dubai in April. File picture: Collins Dublin.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has paid tribute to gardaí and thanked Emirati authorities for “strong co-operation” to tackle global gangland criminality ahead of Daniel Kinahan’s return to Ireland.
It comes as crime boss Kinahan is being transported back to Dublin this Sunday afternoon on the Government jet.
He is expected to be arrested and charged by gardaí when the plane lands in Baldonnell, Dublin, shortly before 7pm, before being brought to the Special Criminal Court.
Speaking at the Tullamore Show, the Taoiseach said he did not want to prejudice any criminal cases and would not comment on Kinahan’s extradition.
However, he praised both the gardaí and the Emirati forces for ongoing and increased co-operation in recent years.
“Ireland has worked hard to develop strong partnerships at a global level, because international criminal activity is global, and the connections are global,” Mr Martin said.
“There is a closer collaboration and working together between countries all over the world in respect of threats to our respective societies and people.”
Mr Martin also said that he has “great confidence in An Garda Síochána” to manage security elements of any high-profile cases in the coming months.
He insisted that the State has the capacity to deal with any threats.
The Taoiseach continued: “We have dealt with threats to the State in the past, very serious threats over a long period of time.
“Gardaí, security forces are resilient in the face of those threats, and likewise in terms of the threats of modern gangland crime and the international dimension of that.
We have strengthened our capacities, we've strengthened our laws and our capacities to undermine such activity.
Defence minister Helen McEntee, who was justice minister when the extradition treaty with the UAE was signed, welcomed Kinhan's extradition.
“Today is the culmination of years of determined work by An Garda Síochána, successive Governments and officials to ensure that those suspected of serious and organised crime cannot evade the Irish justice system," she said.