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

If somebody has been raped of course I would have concerns, whatever the context. If there is evidence of this, clearly it should be brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána. I would assume if it has there will be a file and an effort to investigate it if there is evidence to be pursued in the courts. Asking me whether I would have concern about a woman who has been raped, of course I would, whatever the context.

Going back to the broader point the Deputy is making, and in a broader context than the particular point the Deputy has put on the record of the House, it is the advice of the Garda authorities that assistance from police services from other jurisdictions in intelligence gathering is a recognised and necessary tactic for managing circumstances where persons from outside the jurisdiction who are unknown to local police may seek to engage in criminal activity here, including a variety of activities which could be protests. This is entirely an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and it is carried out in accordance with its functions as set out in the Garda Síochána Acts. Neither I nor the Department have any involvement whatsoever in such arrangements. There is no question of anybody in that circumstance being permitted to engage in criminal activities. I hardly need to say that. Of course they would not in any circumstances.

Any evidence of criminality would have to be pursued fully by the Garda authorities. There is no question of a police officer from outside the jurisdiction exercising police powers here.

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