Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is important to try to get to the bottom of this story. We need to find out whether it is true. If it is true, we must find out who the people involved are. I take Deputy Clare Daly's point that this should not just be about the political system. We have this example. I was interested to listen to what the Taoiseach said yesterday when this matter was raised in the Dáil. My reading of what he said was that having seen the report of the review of the period in question, he does not think there is any evidence of anything. Is that the limit of the investigation we are doing? Given that a whistleblower has raised concerns about an incident involving his removal or change of position, is it not possible for the Minister for Justice and Equality to take targeted measures to find out whether this case is real? If it transpires that it is real, we need to get the details and ascertain how they can be shared. It is important for a variety of reasons that this should be done. I share the concerns expressed by Deputies Ó Snodaigh, Clare Daly and Boyd Barrett about the widespread use of surveillance by the Irish authorities and by the authorities in the UK, the US and elsewhere. Examples of such activity can be seen around the world at present. It is important for those of us in the political system to appreciate that if there is any sense that an office on the Government side is being used to put surveillance on the other side, that is hugely damaging to trust in the political system. It is very important for us to find out who it is. Until we do that, a whiff of suspicion and rumour will surround anyone who might possibly be involved, even though he or she might be completely innocent. We need to get to the bottom of this to clear everyone's name. We need to uncover whether this is true, who exactly was involved and what the consequences will be for the individuals in question.

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