Mr. Martin Callinan:

-----but I will be submitting a report to the Minister in course to deal with all of those aspects, particularly in the context of the covert human intelligence system and its effectiveness and what I see as being a pretty good attempt at dealing with the very sensitive issue of informants and how we handle them. The empirical evidence, if one looks at the amount of detections we have had in recent times, is that one will see at a glance the evidence and product of that chase system and what it has done for the citizens of the State. In the drugs area alone last year, over €100 million was recovered and people were before the courts. On the security side, this year alone, we have 20 people or so, before the Special Criminal Court charged with very serious offences. None of these things come about by driving around in patrol cars and getting lucky. That does not happen. That is evidence of just how effective the use of the intelligence system is. Of course, as the Deputy rightly points out, it is absolutely of critical importance that I, as Commissioner, and my senior management team and all the officers under my command do nothing that would offend against the rules of engagement in terms of handling informants. That is as much as I can say on it.