Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have addressed the issue of policing but I still believe there are further steps to be taken in that respect. Of course, terrorism cannot be responded to just through policing. The State must also have adequate intelligence services in place. It is probably time for us to consider whether the intelligence services we have need to be updated, reviewed or improved. In the context of the appalling terrorist attacks in Britain, we must examine the structures we have in place for gaining intelligence. It appears that Ireland is the only EU country that does not have a national security and intelligence agency. I am not saying we should have a knee-jerk reaction by establishing a separate body and taking those responsibilities from the Garda and the Army, which have fulfilled them very well over the years. However, we must consider what role we, as legislators, can play in terms of assessing and questioning the intelligence community. Nobody is suggesting that confidential information should be handed out or opened and disclosed in a non-confidential way but in other countries such as Britain, for example, there is a parliamentary committee that deals with intelligence issues. That is something we should consider for this country in order that public representatives can ask questions on important issues relating to the safety of people on the island.

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