Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I wish to pursue a further aspect of this matter that may be worthy of further answers from the Minister. It is the case that the former Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Miliband, has made a clear statement in respect of his estimation of the evidence that was available to the British Government at that time. There have been significant changes in that a British citizen has been identified by the British Government as a further suspect, that is, as the 19th suspect. This individual has been identified and has been referred to in recent reports, for example, in The Independent of London, as someone who had a valid British passport. This suspect is known to the British authorities and is suspected to be in hiding in western Europe. In the atmosphere in which Britain is pursuing this matter, it requested an official at the Israeli Embassy in London to leave. That particular official was a liaison officer with MI6. My point, which is important, is the degree to which the operation of so-called intelligence services undermines the diplomatic relations between countries and undermines foreign policy principles. The point I put to the Minister is that our position differs from that of the British but at the same time, if in fact the Minister reaches a conclusion, such a conclusion could be frustrated by the simple assertion that the actions of an intelligence service operating in the grey areas beyond diplomacy cannot be confirmed or denied. Is it not the case that the Minister has been told by the Israeli ambassador that he cannot prove anything and that, effectively, as far as the ambassador is concerned, he simply is going to stonewall on the basis that he knows nothing and will not say anything until things are proved.

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