Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams made the point about newspaper reports that the office of the GSOC was the subject of sophisticated surveillance. A report claiming that the GSOC had been the subject of unlawful surveillance of a sophisticated nature was published in a Sunday newspaper on 9 February 2014. The Minister received a briefing on this yesterday by the chairman of the GSOC. The chairman said publicly that he regretted that the GSOC had made a difficult decision not to inform the Minister, as is required under the law in section 80(5) of Garda Síochána Act 2005. The chairman made that clear.

The issue arose following a sweep of the GSOC's offices conducted in September 2013. That sweep was not dictated by any issue but was part of having a regular sweep of an office like that. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister was informed yesterday that following the sweep and investigation by the company chosen by the GSOC, the GSOC concluded that no definitive evidence of unauthorised technical or electronic surveillance of the office was found. The Deputy asks me whether the office was bugged. Following the investigation, the GSOC found no evidence of unauthorised sophisticated technical or electronic surveillance. I think that is clear.

Deputy Adams is aware that citizens need to have confidence in the integrity of the GSOC. This is why the Minister will give a more detailed statement dealing with the technical issues raised in the investigation and the discussions he had with the chairman of the GSOC yesterday. As I indicated to Deputy Martin, the GSOC will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service, Oversight and Petitions tomorrow in public session. I expect that the matters that need to be addressed in respect of giving absolute clarity about this fundamentally important office will be addressed. That is in the interests of everybody. Deputy Martin is looking for a public inquiry tomorrow. The GSOC, which has responsibility for oversight of the Garda, is fully entitled to give its report and engage with the committee.

I point out to Deputy Adams that the Government does not have the report provided to the GSOC by the company that carried out the investigation. The Government is not entitled to that report because the GSOC is independent but the Minister for Justice and Equality has requested it. If it is provided we will be able to deal with the facts as presented to the GSOC by the company.

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