Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

They very much do. As Deputy Flanagan outlined, there was significant political upheaval in Slovakia following the incident. It was one of the reasons the Minister for the Interior, who happens to be the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia was not able to attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, and that the ambassador to Spain attended as his representative.

The Slovakian ambassador to Ireland immediately contacted my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs to apologise profusely. I understand the gravity and the enormity of the situation. The Deputy is correct; if things had gone wrong at this end people might have been killed. The concept of the surreptitious planting of devices such as this on a person, even as an exercise, is not something that should be countenanced. I understand that in this instance the device of itself was not capable of exploding. I understand also that the Slovakian authorities have moved to ensure it does not happen ever again and that it is banned in their society. From my own knowledge, I know that it does not happen in this country.

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