Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
81. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of undercover officers from the UK special demonstrations squad and the national public order intelligence unit who have ever operated here; and if their Irish operations are to be fully examined as part of the report being compiled by the Garda Commissioner. [8885/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my responses to a number of recent Questions on this subject. As the Deputy is aware, when concerns were raised in 2011 with regard to allegations about the conduct of a UK police officer operating undercover in Ireland, a report on the issues arising was sought from An Garda Síochána. The report from the then Garda Commissioner was received in March 2011 and outlined the position in respect of the basis on which intelligence-gathering co-operation from police services in other jurisdictions might be sought in certain circumstances. The report also emphasised that confidentiality would be a fundamental aspect of any such arrangements. As the Deputy will appreciate this would be fundamental to the use of such techniques were they to be deployed and would be essential to guard against harm to individuals.
As I have indicated previously to the Deputy, these are operational matters for the Garda Authorities, that are carried out in accordance with their functions as set out in the Garda Síochána Acts, and neither I nor my Department would be involved in or have access to the details of such arrangements.
In the light of developments which have taken place outside this jurisdiction since these matters came to light in 2011, including the establishment in 2015 by the UK Government of an inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968 (the Pitchford Inquiry), I requested a fresh report from the Garda Commissioner on any issues arising. As I have stated previously to the Deputy, I have not sought in any way to circumscribe the information which the Garda Commissioner would provide in that report. I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that they have met with their London Metropolitan Police Service counterparts and they will remain in ongoing contact with them in respect of this issue.
