asked the Minister for Justice whether the interception of postal communications, telegrams and telephone messages is practised for any purpose whatsoever, and, if so, if he will state upon what authority the practice is based and indicate the procedure involved; and further, if he will state the number of interceptions made during the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interception of Postal Communications.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Interceptions are made on the authority of the Minister for Justice in exercise of a long standing power the existence of which is explicitly recognised in Section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1908.
Each warrant is issued on the personal authority of the Minister for Justice which is given only where the warrant is required for security purposes or for the prevention or detection of serious crime, information as to which could be got in no other way.
It is against the public interest to give figures for the number of interceptions and, like all my predecessors in office, I am not prepared to do so.