Surveillance Operations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Questions (91)

Mick Wallace

Question:

91. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the designated judge under the 1993 and 2011 Acts and the interception of postal packages and retention of data, the detail of the most recent visit by the designated judge to the relevant authorities, including An Garda Síochána; the time they spent at each location; the number of files the designated judge examined; if she has satisfied herself with the detail of the most recent report in 2016 by the designated judge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24383/17]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The operation of the provisions of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 are overseen by a serving judge of the High Court designated for that purpose by the Government. The current Designated Judge is Ms Justice Marie Baker. The Designated Judge is completely independent in the performance of her functions, including in the conduct of and reporting on the oversight of the operation of the Acts. The powers and functions of the Designated Judge are set out in the respective Acts, including the requirement to report at least annually to the Taoiseach. Those reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are available to the Deputy in the library. The most recent report was provided by the previous Designated Judge, Mr. Justice Paul McDermott, in November 2016.