Police chiefs from across Europe gathered in Dublin today to discuss the next move in the fight against international terrorism.
Officers from all European Union countries joined their counterparts from the accession states to meet the heads of Interpol, Europol and Cepol, the European Police College.
The meeting followed an emergency gathering of European justice ministers last week in the wake of the terrorist bombings in Madrid.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, opened the two-day summit, which was to be chaired by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.
A Garda spokesman said the meeting would also discuss police co-operation in the investigation of cybercrime, combating organised crime and the establishment of Joint Investigation Teams. Planning for the Olympic Games in Athens and the European Football Championships in Portugal would also be discussed, he added.
The Dublin Castle summit marked the ninth meeting of the European Chiefs of Police Task Force.
The body was established in 1999 to enhance co-operation between police forces and Europol, and to share experience and information to help combat cross-border crime and the planning of joint operations.
PA