Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for that answer and do appreciate the need for discretion. However, in our experience of the British security and intelligence systems, the ways in which secrecy can be abused, decisions and actions taken are at odds with democratic norms and values and adversely impact on the lives of citizens are now a part of our history. I am not suggesting that could happen here, although when there is no accountability, there is the potential for such abuses to occur. The British state infamously collaborated in the killing of hundreds of citizens, including in this state. Its intelligence agencies collected and I have no doubt still collect millions of pieces of information on ordinary citizens across the island. The British are not alone in this. The United States was caught spying on most European states, which are its allies. It was interesting to see that at the beginning of this month the US Senate passed a Bill to end bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records. That was the consequence of the courageous actions of Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency whistleblower. His information confirmed that the US Government, without obtaining court warrants, had routinely collected telephone logs of tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of Americans who had no link whatsoever with subversion or violent groups.

I raise these matters as an illustration of the danger that secret intelligence gathering practices can lead to illegality and human rights abuses. This must be balanced with the need of the State to protect citizens.

According to The Irish Times, a draft Government White Paper, which was to be presented to the Cabinet this morning, details concerns expected to arise over the next ten years, including cyber attacks, organised crime and potential threats from events in Libya, Iraq and Syria. Are there any mechanisms for oversight and what are they? Does the national security committee have any oversight role in the gathering of information and surveillance by the various intelligence-led sections of the Garda Síochána and the director of military intelligence? Does it have any responsibility for decisions over what citizens could or should be targets of surveillance? I do not know if this is true but it was reported ten years ago that the Garda Síochána requested clearance to examine 10,000 telephone records of citizens. Does the national security committee have a role in this? Does it have to clear it and does it have any oversight over such actions? What is the relationship of the national security committee with other intelligence agencies? For example, does it share or authorise the sharing of intelligence information with the British or other European Governments or with the USA?

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