Secret Service.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2005

Tuesday, 6 December 2005

Ceisteanna (195)

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

235 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the reason behind the large increase in funding for the Secret Service in next year’s Estimates; if it indicates that the threat to the State has increased in recent times; if the service is responsible for monitoring suspected al-Qaeda members here and if the service employs persons who can speak or write Arabic. [37674/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

The Estimate for the Secret Service as published in the Revised Estimates for public services for 2005 was €786,000 and the Estimate for 2006 is €806,000, an increase of 2.5%. It is not the practice to divulge information or explanations relating to expenditure on this Vote.