Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces have long experience of dealing with dissident activity in this country and, unfortunately, continue to have to use that expertise. For decades they have had to develop a level of expertise in explosives which continue to be placed by dissidents under cars in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will have seen arrests in recent months. He will also have seen cases before the Special Criminal Court. He will understand there is ongoing contact with the PSNI where the level of threat remains severe. The professionals in both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces have built up considerable experience in dealing with terrorism. The new feature is its international dimension and the willingness of those involved to act as suicide bombers. This is extremely challenging internationally, as is the phenomenon of returned fighters.

When the Paris attacks happened, the strategic command and control centre of An Garda Síochána swung into action immediately. On the Friday evening An Garda Síochána was in touch with its international counterparts. I spent a number of hours being briefed on the Saturday afternoon. The National Security Committee has been operated between officials. The Taoiseach calls his own meetings of Ministers to discuss the information coming from that committee and to bring Ministers together to examine these important issues.

On access to language skills, the Garda Commissioner has informed me that gardaí have access to all of the language skills and resources they require to enable them to support their operational activities in dealing with persons who may be a cause of concern here.

See this speech in context