asked the Minister for Justice if the Garda Síochána have had any success in detecting semtex explosives with any type of equipment or with sniffer trained dogs; if he will give details of the number of cases where Semtex has been discovered here in random searches in Ireland; if he has any positive information regarding the detection system that is being developed by a company (details supplied) in the United States; whether the Garda Síochána have studied this particular method of detecting Semtex; if so, if he will give details of same; and if he has any proposals for the provision of this detection system that has been developed in the United States for use at airports here in Ireland, particularly at Dublin airport and Shannon airport.
Written Answers. - Semtex Explosives.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Semtex has been found by them on four separate occasions. The details are as follows:
|
Date |
Location |
Amount |
|
27/1/88 |
Malin, County Donegal. |
100 lbs. |
|
23/2/88 |
Portmarnock, County Dublin. |
501 lbs. |
|
20/8/88 |
Kilcock, County Kildare. |
51 lbs. |
|
4/1/89 |
Birr, County Offaly. |
22 lbs. |
It would be contrary to the public interest for me to disclose the methods by which the explosives was located in these cases.
The Gards are aware of the detection system mentioned in the question but, again, it would be contrary to the public interest for me to comment further on this matter or to disclose particulars of proposals for detecting explosives at airports or elsewhere. The Deputy may however take it that the Garda will keep abreast of all technological developments in this area and that I will ensure that the most up-to-date proven explosives detection technology will be available to them.