Ms Elizabeth Farries:

The project the Deputy mentioned relates to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations, INCLO, an organisation with 13 members of which we are one. Nine of us sent similar requests to our governments inquiring about information relating to intelligence-sharing. In all nine countries, the requests were denied for reasons of secrecy and sensitive information. The end result demonstrates the ongoing opacity of intelligence sharing systems, not only in Ireland but across the globe. We should not have to rely on people like Edward Snowden to reveal documents that show these things are happening - we should be allowed to see them.