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

I agree that there is a need for greater democratic involvement in, and oversight of, what we are doing in this area. There is an immediate question that requires an answer. How will we co-operate with the UK Government in the post-Brexit era if we are to have a common travel area? It was reported, although it is only conjecture at this stage, that one of the people detained after the bombing in Manchester last week had spent some time in Ireland. That will continue post-Brexit. I also recall reading in some of the British media last weekend that one of the concerns post-Brexit was that the sharing of intelligence information with European colleagues would be increasingly difficult. What is the mechanism post-Brexit for us to share security information with the British Government, especially given that we have a common travel area and such strong connections? I also call on the Taoiseach to provide for the wider involvement of Members of the House in overseeing what our security officials are doing in this regard. It is important that it not be done in secret. Obviously, one understands the need for secrecy, but there is a requirement for democratic oversight, as occurs at Westminster but not here.

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