Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate what the Minister of State has said. I support the point that if it is an issue of national security and the Government so deems it, that it would be in its exclusive domain. If that were not the case and if the State was to be affected by the concerns, the responsibility would not rest with the Government but with another party, notwithstanding its capacity and ability to analyse and understand situations. What safeguards are built in, or what process or procedures are there? If a Minister is making such a decision, would he or she have to publish it? Deputy Mac Lochlainn makes the point about accountability - in other words, that it could not happen in a vacuum, notwithstanding the fact that one might never know. For example, some of things that are happening in regard to ISIS in other countries could give rise to serious issues that might never, or should never, be disclosed. One would have to take it in good faith that the Government acted accordingly. What accountability would the Minister have?