asked the Minister for Justice if, in relation to the theft of confidential files from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he will indicate (a) the number and nature of the files stolen (b) the number and nature of the files interfered with in the premises (c) if a Garda investigation has been completed in relation to this theft and, if so, if a prosecution is pending (d) whether the security arrangements in operation in this building at the time of the break-in were satisfactory and (e) the steps, if any, which have been taken to improve the security of the files in these premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Theft of Confidential Files.
36.
It is not the practice for Ministers for Justice to give detailed information to the House about specific crimes or Garda investigations except in singular instances where the circumstances of an investigation, or some particular aspects of it, are so exceptional that such a course is deemed to be appropriate. In this case I will confine my remarks to saying that the Garda authorities have indicated that practically all files in the office appeared to have been disturbed and that 145 files were stolen. These include some files dealing with particular cases of note submitted by the Garda to the Director of Public Prosecutions and some of a more general nature.
As regards the question of security arrangements, the position in that the security of the premises in question is primarily a matter for the owners or occupiers of the premises and not the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. I do not in any event believe that it would be in the public interest to give details of the security arrangements in place in any particular instance.