asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give an assurance that all letters intercepted for treatment under warrants issued by the Minister for Justice are restored to the post for delivery to the addressees.
94.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interception of Mail.
93.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the precise functions carried out by every officer of his Department involving (a) the interception and treatment of postal packets, and (b) the tapping of telephone calls carried out under warrants issued by the Minister for Justice.
95.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number and cost of Post Office staff employed on the interception and treatment of postal packets and tapping and treatment of telephone calls carried out under warrants issued by the Minister for Justice; and whether these costs are paid for directly by the Department of Justice or charged to that Department as services rendered in the Department's commercial accounts.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 94 and 95 together.
The Deputy's questions relate to action taken by my Department under warrants issued by the Minister for Justice in accordance with section 56 (2) of the Post Office Act, 1908. Any costs incurred in complying with the warrants are borne by my Department. Letters intercepted are delivered to the addressees in the normal way. On the other points raised in the Deputy's questions it would be contrary to long-standing practice to supply information of this kind.
May I ask if the staff employed are Post Office staff?
Yes.
While accepting the Taoiseach's assurance some time ago that there was no issue of warrants for telephone tapping, is the Minister aware that in America, for about 60 dollars, it is possible to purchase devices for this purpose? Is the Minister absolutely sure there is no telephone tapping other than that done under warrant? Can he give a guarantee?
Any telephone tapping done by my Department is done only on receipt of warrants from the Department of Justice.
I accept the Minister's assurance. Is it not possible, however, to do so by other means? Would the Minister look into the matter?
Acting Chairman
That would be a separate question. Next question— No 96.
Are they coming from the Labour Party?
On Question 95, is there special staff in the Dublin Post Office now to deal with the interception and treatment of postal packets and telephone calls? If so, are they paid additional wages or salary in view of the nature of their work?
The Deputy stresses the word "now". There has always been a section of the staff in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to look after matters such as this.
Am I to assume that the members of the general staff are not aware of who are assigned to this special duty and that the whole procedure is secret?
I cannot agree with the Deputy's assumptions.
Is it correct or otherwise?
Are these officers required to sign any secrecy statement or guarantee of secrecy before they are put on this work?
I would think that that would be a separate question altogether. I am not prepared to answer that.
Acting Chairman
I am calling the next question—No. 96. I allowed Deputy Murphy in three questions back even though I had called the next question. The Minister said he would not answer.
We got no answer at all.