Tony Gregory
Ceist:235 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of phone taps authorised against criminal elements in 2002 and to date in 2003. [26948/03]
Written Answers. - Communications Interception.
The interception of telecommunications is governed by the provisions of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993.
It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose details of the authorisations to intercept which have been given, if any, including the number of authorisations granted in any period of time.