Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cross-Border Security Liaison.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

101 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, in spite of the rule that gardaí are not permitted to deal directly with the British army and that all security liaison must take place through the RUC, there is evidence that, immediately before the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, at least two British intelligence officers were brought covertly to Dublin by Garda officers and that one of these officers is still a serving member.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

102 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, in view of the rule that gardaí are not permitted to deal directly with the British army and that all security liaison must take place through the RUC, the steps, if any, that were taken to discipline a person (details supplied) who publicly admitted in a newspaper interview (details supplied) that he had worked directly with British M15 and M16 agents and with British special military intelligence officers; if this person was authorised to do so; if so, if those who gave the authorisation were disciplined; if not, the reason therefore; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

It is not the usual practice for Ministers for Justice to make statements to the House about matters of this kind. However, in view of the insinuation contained in Question No. 101, I consider it appropriate, in this instance, to state that the Garda authorities have no evidence of such an incident having taken place at the time specified. The only other comment I would make is that this Government, like all its predecessors, would be opposed to any practice which would tend to undermine in any way the principle of police primacy in this State.