Vol. 503 No. 7
2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of occasions in 1999 the interdepartmental committee of officials chaired by his Department with the mandate to develop work practices and procedures for the protection of classified information has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10217/99]
The interdepartmental committee established to develop work practices and procedures for the protection of classified information has met on one occasion this year. At that meeting the committee considered a preliminary draft report which included an inventory of current practices in Departments and Offices for the handling, circulation and storage of sensitive official information. It was decided to identify best practices in dealing with the top secret category on the basis of material from Departments. Information was also sought from the private sector to determine the appropriateness of departmental practices. In the interim, substantial progress has been made at departmental level. The committee is due to meet shortly to finalise its draft report.
What changes will the committee recommend? The Taoiseach will recall that great concern was expressed about the leaking of information concerning contacts with the person who is now President. Has progress been made in identifying the persons responsible? The Taoiseach appeared to have clear ideas as to who was responsible before the election.
I have no knowledge of that matter which, as the Deputy is aware, is with the Garda Síochána. There was no subsequent prosecution. The committee will propose standards and procedures for the protection of information of exceptional sensitivity, the security of computer network communications and the security requirements for electronic government as well as for collaborative working between Departments and Offices. It is due to report shortly.
Does the Taoiseach remember the radio interview given by the Minister for Public Enterprise in which she led people to believe the then Government had clear ideas of who was responsible for the leaks? The impression was created that the then Government was on the brink of knowing who was responsible. This was politically loaded at the time. Now it appears the matter has disappeared into the sand. Why were the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Enterprise so clear at the time and so vague now about who was responsible?
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
I do. Are there transcripts?
Marty will provide them.
The question relates to the interdepartmental committee established to develop work practices and procedures for the protection of classified and secret information. I recall persons being arrested and investigated but they were not prosecuted subsequently. That is a matter for the Garda Síochána.
Does the Taoiseach recollect making political charges about the matter at the time?
The Deputy and I had heated discussions at the time.
They found nothing.
That is a matter for the Garda Síochána.
The Taoiseach's credibility was not enhanced.
The matter was not followed up once the election was over.
That is incorrect. The matter was followed up by the Garda Síochána.
That is a scandalous accusation against the Garda Síochána.
Why did the Taoiseach not find out who was responsible?
I presume the Deputy does not want me to conduct private investigations.
That is a separate matter.
Deputy Dermot Ahern is available at any time to conduct private investigations.
He is not bad at it either.
