Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a national security committee which co-ordinates all of the work. I think there are issues in terms of an accountability chain to the Oireachtas and the Government of the day. That is why there is an examination under way. There needs to be work done on ensuring a proper accountability chain and a framework governing both military intelligence and intelligence activities more generally. An Garda Síochána has a key role in domestic intelligence. Military intelligence is important in terms of external factors and anything which threatens the security of the State. I was not happy with the precise manner in which that article ended up on the front pages. I do not think it is satisfactory, to be frank. There comes a time when you need to be honest with the Oireachtas and say these things, which might be uncomfortable for some, but I believe in the formulation of a developing policy for how we work in the future. We have to take a more substantive and mature role. It is a vital area for the protection of the State. We need to know the guard rails that should surround a proper intelligence function within the State and behave responsibly as a consequence of that.

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