Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I could not accept the amendment in any shape or form. The Deputy is trying to remove any reference to "the security of the State" right across the Bill, whether it is in regard to authorisation for surveillance under section 4, for the granting of an approval under section 7, as a reason not to publish matters contained in a report under section 12 or with regard to disclosure of information under sections 13 to 15.

The Garda Síochána has a distinct and somewhat unusual role in that most other states have separate police agencies. In our system, the Garda Síochána has the dual function of investigation of crime and the protection of the security of the State in its widest form. To exclude that from the consideration of the ability of the Garda, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners to deal with crimes affecting the security of the State would reduce the effectiveness of gardaí in defending this State against an attack in whatever shape or form it would happen. I could not accede to the removal of the reference to "the security of the State" in a number of sections because it is a core function of the Garda Síochána and to accept the amendment would restrict gardaí in regard to normal crime as well as issues of protecting the State against national and international terrorism and other crimes. Therefore, I cannot accept the amendment.

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