7 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he will take in respect of a newspaper report (details supplied) to the effect that a retired member of the Garda was responsible for passing information to the IRA which led to the deaths of ten people; the criminal investigation, if any, pending in this case; if the circumstances of the murders have been reinvestigated to establish if the gardaí should have been aware that the murders could only have occurred with the help of inside information from within the Garda; his views on whether there are improved arrangements in place to ensure that there is not any co-operation by individual members of the Garda with subversive organisations; and if the report and the events it describes have any implications for ongoing co-operation between the Garda and the RUC in matters affecting Border security. [8670/00]
Other Questions. - Garda Investigations.
The reply to Question No. 7 is the same as the reply to Question No. 1.
I am aware of the allegations raised in the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy. Similar allegations have been made in the past and given coverage in the media. The murders referred to in the article were the subject to intensive investigations, both by the RUC in relation to those incidents which occurred in Northern Ireland and by An Garda Síochána in relation to incidents which occurred in this jurisdiction. The two forces co-operated fully with each other in these investigations.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that during the course of the investigations in question, and other investigations into terrorist incidents in the border area throughout the 1980s and 1990s, tangible evidence was not uncovered to show that information was passed by a Garda informant to the Provisional IRA. There is no doubt the allegations raise issues of the utmost seriousness and that their recent repetition in the media has caused understandable concern. Even though there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations, every effort must be made to assure and reassure the public that they have been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, the Garda Commissioner has appointed a senior officer to re-examine the files and to investigate the allegations raised.
When we discussed this earlier, Deputy Flanagan referred to the journalist who wrote about this recently in glowing terms. Would that the journalist concerned would write in equally glowing terms of myself and Deputy Flanagan. We would both be happy men.
Has the Minister discussed this matter with the Garda Commissioner?
The matter is obviously discussed through the Garda authorities. I do not go to the Garda Commissioner in relation to every single little matter that comes before me. I cannot do that. The matter was discussed through the normal channels.
Does the Minister regard it as a single little matter?
The Minister does not regard it as a little matter. I am trying to explain to the Deputy what he already knows, that it is not possible to have such conversations on every issue. There are channels available through the office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Garda Commissioner day and night, throughout the year.
Does the Minister consider the matter of sufficient import to discuss it directly with the Garda Commissioner?
I have explained the position. I am satisfied with the type and level of communication that has taken place in this matter. I am also satisfied that the answers I have received from the Garda authorities are correct.