Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - British Intelligence Operations.

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

98 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the widespread concerns in relation to the recent revelations that the British Ministry of Defence was involved in an elaborate interception of Irish telephone traffic through a facility at Capenhurst, Cheshire; and his views on the further allegations that the now redundant listening facility at Capenhurst has been replaced by an even more sophisticated telephone traffic interception system by means of British Ministry of Defence owned optical fibre cables. [18172/99]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

133 Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the revelations that all international telephone, fax, e-mail and data communications to and from this jurisdiction have been routinely and systematically monitored by the British authorities since at least 1990; the report, if any, he has received from the British Government on the activities conducted at the Capenhurst tower, Cheshire; and the representations, if any, he has made to it. [17464/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews): I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 133 together.

Regarding the general issue of the allegations of interception of communications to and from Ireland, I refer to my reply to Priority Question No. 78. With regard to the alleged replacement of the facility at Capenhurst by a new system for the interception of communications, I am not in a position to comment.