asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the increasing availability of sophisticated electronic bugging and eavesdropping equipment, he will consider introducing legislation to protect the privacy of citizens in this and related areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Electronic Equipment.
12.
(Limerick East): In principle, the answer is that I am prepared to consider such legislation, but it is obvious that it is a complex subject involving technical as well as legal issues and that the enforcement of legislation that would be effective in this area could prove extremely difficult. Accordingly, the prospect of legislation emerging must be regarded as being, at best, a medium-term aim rather than a short-term one.
In fact, from such inquiries as I have made, which are not exhaustive, I am not aware of any country in Europe which has legislative controls of this kind, a fact which may be a pointer to the difficulties.
The Minister's reply is a reflection on the events which have occurred in recent months. Arising from a previous reply by the Minister that his responsibility extends only to taps carried out on foot of warrants issued by the Minister for Justice, could he indicate what protection he intends to extend to the ordinary citizen and to Deputies of this House against phone tapping which may be carried out without his knowledge or consent?
(Limerick East): That question refers to electronic bugging and eavesdropping and does not refer to tapping. It is a different question, but if the Deputy puts down this question I shall answer it.
The Minister is well aware that if you have a tap on a telephone, you are eavesdropping. Is that not correct?
(Limerick East): The Deputy has asked if I will consider introducing legislation to protect the privacy of the citizen in this and related areas. This and related areas extend way beyond telephone tapping. They go into the whole area of bugging and electronic eavesdropping, which is the burden of the Deputy's question. I have already given public commitments that the question of telephone tapping will be dealt with and I shall introduce procedures which will be proof against a repetition of recent events. For the purposes of this reply, I have answered what the Deputy has asked and very fully.
A last supplementary question, Deputy, please.
Could the Minister indicate when he intends to introduce the procedures which he has promised?
(Limerick East): Again, I submit that this is a different question, but I am proceeding as quickly as I can to bring a system into this House and to make Deputies aware of the new procedures which I shall introduce.