Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I cannot accept the proposed amendment because it is not appropriate or necessary. However, we can discuss it further. The Interpol national unit is simply a unit of the Garda Síochána. Similarly, the crimes policy unit and operational support unit are units of the Garda Síochána. The staffing of any unit within the Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. Any assignations may change from time to time. Section 4(5) provides that the head of the national unit may be assigned tasks or duties other than those relating to Interpol. Any person who wishes to make contact with the national unit may do so via the Garda Síochána headquarters in the Phoenix Park. It is not an issue of security. It is very much a question of the specific numbers involved. If we were talking about the individuals, it would be an issue of security. The numbers may change from time to time. The answer one might receive in this context might not be technically true in the following days.