asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is satisfied that all security reports submitted to his Department over the past 12 months have been retained in safe keeping; when the question of the smuggling of arms into this country was first adverted to in these reports and what action was taken thereon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Security Reports.
3.
All confidential reports coming to my Department are kept in safe custody. On the instructions of the Taoiseach our ambassadors to certain countries requested the Governments of those countries to take all possible steps to prevent the illegal exportation of arms to Ireland from their territories.
The Minister has not answered that part of the question which asks when information was first received in the Department in regard to the smuggling of arms?
The Department of External Affairs do not receive security reports.
Did the Minister say in his reply "to prevent the illegal importation of arms"?
Yes.
We are concerned that the exportation of arms may be lawful so far as the exporting country is concerned but illegal so far as we are concerned. All exports of arms to this country should be prevented.
Any exportation of arms from other countries to this country which would be illegal in this country was and is being prevented.
I seemed to hear the Minister say—I must have got it wrong—that all security reports in the Department are kept in safe keeping but the Department do not receive any security reports?
That is not what I said. I said "all confidential reports" are kept in safe custody.
But despite the fact that the Taoiseach told us that the Department secure money from the Secret Service they do not receive any security reports?
That is correct. They do not engage in security activities or receive reports from the security services.
What do they spend the money on then?
Yes, I am beginning to wonder.
That is another matter.