Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak about this important matter. We need to step back a little, allow the committee to do its work and let the facts speak for themselves. The media frenzy during the week has been disturbing. At this stage we are analysing our own speculation, which is bizarre. If there is an issue, let it be teased out by the relevant bodies.

It is naive to suggest there will never be a threat of surveillance. There always is a threat. There was a rush to blame and we are very good at rushing to blame people. We should have had patience and allowed the facts to be teased out, which will happen in time. I am annoyed at the Opposition for making a political football of this serious matter. What is the basis of all this? Is it to undermine the Minister or our police force? It is not on and this will be a real test of the committee. We are now in day 11 of this and someone said to me during the week that we have a national emergency, with people without power due to ESB lines being down all over the country but no one is talking about it. No one is talking about the problems people face; instead, they are analysing their own speculation. It is unbecoming of this House to carry on in this manner.

Maybe we will look at GSOC and ask what powers it needs and whether we should modify its powers. That is how we work on such matters. This is an evolving story but we will wait for the facts to speak for themselves. Perhaps everyone will have patience and allow the people doing this and the Minister some space to get to the root of it.

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