The second item is consideration of a Supplementary Estimate for Vote 12 – Secret Service. A briefing note providing details of the Supplementary Estimate was circulated to Members. I call on members to adhere to a reasonably strict schedule. The Minister will address the committee for several minutes, after which the Opposition spokespersons, if they so wish, will have time to respond and we can proceed then with an open discussion. Is that agreed? Agreed. I remind members they are only considering the Supplementary Estimate and may discuss issues relevant to this individual subhead. They may not recommend increases or decreases in the Supplementary Estimates. There are no divisions.
Vote 12 — Secret Service (Supplementary).
I seek the approval from the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service for a Supplementary Estimate of €200,000 for Vote 12. This will bring the total Vote for the Secret Service to €900,000 for 2009. The purpose of the Vote is to obtain information necessary for the security of the State. Given the sensitivities associated with a Vote of this nature, information relating to its operation is not made public. The State, unlike many sovereign states, does not have a secret service as such. Secret service responsibilities are discharged primarily by the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána.
In making grants under this heading the Dáil expressly waives its right to explanations to which it is otherwise entitled in respect of all grants of public money. In this case the effect of giving such explanations would be to defeat the purpose of the grant.
One cannot ask any questions.
It is not customary even to disclose to the Oireachtas what Departments sought funds from the Vote. I sought to reassure the public by outlining where the primary responsibilities for these matters lie. The funding available in 2009 through the Vote has been drawn down. A request is now being made for an additional €200,000. The demand for funding has been higher than forecast due to the success of certain recent investigations.
Thank God the Labour Party did not hear that statement.
Does anyone wish to make a comment or ask a question on the supplementary estimate for the secret service?
At the risk of being too invasive, what exactly will the €200,000 extra be used for?
A secret service.
A Deputy
Is the room bugged?
How does the Minister define secret service?
What is the service and what is the secret? They could be separate.
I outlined the relevant services with primary responsibility before Deputy O'Donnell arrived. They are the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. I reassure the Deputy that we do not have a separate security service.
Does this fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or of the Minister for Defence?
That is a secret.
It can.
It falls within the remit of both?
Yes.