Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased the Minister of State is present to respond to the Topical Issue matter I raise.

The recent revelations published by a major German magazine showing that the United States engaged in surveillance at European Union offices at key locations is a most disappointing development. The allegation that telephone lines and computer networks of European Union offices in Brussels were tapped by the American National Security Agency under its so-called PRISM surveillance programme must be investigated. There is no other way of viewing the collection of up to 500,000 e-mails, telephone calls and text messages each month in Germany alone, other than as a gross breach of trust between the United States and European Union nations. This has, without question, the potential to damage the vital European Union-United States relationship on which so much relies at a particularly sensitive time in the negotiations on the transatlantic trade agreement. It also undermines the credibility of the United States in taking a strong stand against cyber-espionage, particularly from China.

These revelations, if true, show that the United States has engaged in actions which are most unacceptable and certainly not good diplomacy. These actions have provoked a feeling of justifiable hurt on this side of the Atlantic as Europeans are being targeted by unwarranted surveillance for unknown objectives. As allies and supporters of the United States, European countries and the institutions of the European Union deserve more respect than that. We understand that in an increasingly complex world where there is a continuing need to be vigilant against international terrorism, surveillance is a necessary element of national security policy. I cannot see how the actions of the United States in this instance could protect national security in any way. After all, our embassies and EU offices are hardly any threat to the security of the United States. This raises the question of whether the United States has been using surveillance to advance its own economic and political interests to the detriment of the interests of the European Union.

If true, this would be an unforgivable abuse of power. If it is not the case, we must seek clarification as to why this occurred.

The alleged use of the NATO headquarters in Brussels to spy on the European Council building, also in Brussels, is disturbing, given the latter's central and sensitive role in deciding EU policy. Has the Tánaiste been in contact with his EU colleagues to discuss how best to approach these revelations and have these matters dealt with without delay?

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