Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in response to the alleged surveillance of government and civilian communications in Europe by US authorities; if he has established if any such surveillance took place here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47025/13]
View answer127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 2 October 2013, if he will provide any subsequent information regarding and arising from his response and the Topical Issue raised on 2 July in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47026/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
Following allegations of US surveillance of European Union institutions earlier this year, the EU has engaged regularly with the US authorities in both Washington and Brussels to seek clarification on the issues raised.
An EU-US High Level Expert Group on data protection has been established, where this and related matters are discussed. The EU is represented on this working group by the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council and the European External Action Service (EEAS), and the work of the group is ongoing. A number of meetings have already taken place in Brussels and in Washington. The next meeting is expected to take place on 6 November in Brussels. Following this work, the Commission and the Presidency are expected to issue a public, factual report which will be followed by an assessment and recommendations before the end of the year.
As regards the allegations of spying on EU delegations, High Representative Catherine Ashton raised EU concerns directly with US Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice on several occasions. I understand that more contacts at various levels have been established since to further discuss the allegations and obtain clarifications on the surveillance activities undertaken by the US with regard to EU delegations.
At their European Council meeting of 24/25 October last, EU Heads of State and Government issued a statement on the more recent developments concerning possible intelligence issues and the deep concerns that these events have raised among European citizens. They underlined the close relationship between Europe and the United States and the value of that partnership. They expressed their conviction that the partnership must be based on respect and trust, including as regards the work and co-operation of secret services.
For our part, and as I have outlined in a reply to a previous parliamentary question, the Government’s concerns have been conveyed bilaterally in contacts with the US Embassy in Dublin. While the House will appreciate that it is not the practice to comment in detail on surveillance and security issues and that the Minister for Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in this area, we do not have any information that would indicate that surveillance took place here in Ireland. I wish to reiterate that any such surveillance here would be unacceptable to us.
