asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he has issued any instructions for the examination at the present time of letters or postal packets posted by persons in Éire for delivery to other persons in Éire, and, if so, if he will state under what authority any such instructions have been issued, and for what purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Opening of Postal Packets.
The Post Office Act, 1938, makes provision for the opening of postal packets in obedience to a warrant. Since 1924, such warrants have been issued by the Minister for Justice in cases where he is of opinion that an examination of correspondence would lead to the prevention or the detection of crime. There has been no change in the practice.
Have further warrants been issued recently? Has the warrant been extended?
Mr. Boland
There have been a few extra.
And the purpose of the issuing of the extra warrants is what?
Mr. Boland
The same purpose.
To prevent crime?
Mr. Boland
The prevention and detection of crime.
And to collect information for the purpose of various Departments of State?
Mr. Boland
Not that I am aware.
The Minister ought to be aware of what the purpose is and what use is being made of it.
Mr. Boland
I have given the answer. The purpose is the prevention and detection of crime.
Would that involve such a thing as the passing on of information discovered by the opening of these letters to such Departments as the Revenue Commissioners, the Income-tax Commissioners and the Prices Commissioners?
Mr. Boland
I would not think so.
Would the Minister consider that that would be an intolerable use of the power of opening letters?
Mr. Boland
I do not think they were used for that purpose.
Will the Minister make inquiries as to whether it is done?
Mr. Boland
No.
I would like to ask whether with his authority a special staff has been established in the postal sorting office in Dublin for collecting information from internal correspondence?
Mr. Boland
I would not like to answer that.
Will the Minister make inquiries? That question can be repeated.