Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I repeat that the national security committee meets periodically and its members stay in touch on an ongoing basis. The committee's role relates primarily to classic security issues, particularly international terrorism. That is the purpose for which its members come together, namely, to examine information from Europol and Interpol in a broad sense, which would not be dealt with in the office of emergency planning in the Department of Defence. That committee has a formal role in emergency planning. Co-ordination of emergency planning is a function of the Department of Defence, particularly of that unit we set up some years ago. The national security committee raises questions when it becomes aware of gaps or inadequacies in this country's emergency response preparations. Such preparations tend to relate to potential emergencies which could be caused by threats or acts of terrorism, biological or chemical attacks or nuclear discharges. The committee is concerned with issues which are not ordinary day-to-day issues. It does not have a role in operational matters.

The issues referred to by Deputy Ó Caoláin have been raised in other forums by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on foot of complaints received from the public. Such complaints regularly originate in Northern Ireland but sometimes originate in the Republic of Ireland. We raise the operation of new legislation and procedures on an ongoing basis. I am aware of how the procedures have been operated against Irish citizens over the past year or so. We have raised that issue on a number of occasions. The key point in this regard, in effect, is the identification and classification of particular citizens who are pulled out of the normal mill and discriminated against. We have raised that issue many times and made a number of specific complaints in that regard.

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