Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress of the investigation into the illegal use of false Irish passports in Dubai; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20887/10]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in relation to the theft of EU citizens' identities by those involved in the extrajudicial killing of a person (details supplied) in Dubai [21100/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

On 15 February 2010, the Dubai chief of police confirmed that several suspects, believed to have been involved with the killing of Hamas chief, Mahmoud al Mabhouh, in January, had entered Dubai on the passports of a number of foreign countries. Twenty-six suspects were named, of whom three had travelled on Australian passports, four on French passports, 12 using British passports, one on a German passport and six on Irish passports. Following further discussions between our ambassador in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai police during which additional information was provided, the passport service was able to confirm that the Irish passports used were counterfeit. Subsequent investigations by the Dubai police exposed more fraudulent passports, two of which were Irish, bringing the total number of Irish passports used to eight.

Unlike the position for many of the countries whose passports were used, the fake Irish passports did not involve the stolen identities of actual Irish citizens. Instead, passport numbers were used in respect of six of these passports while the remaining two passports were never issued by the Irish passport service. Officials of my Department contacted the six Irish citizens and, in the case of two minors, their families, whose passport numbers were stolen. Replacement passports have issued to each citizen concerned.

When I became aware of the suggestion that Irish passports may have been used by persons involved in the Dubai killing, I initiated an investigation by the passport service. The Garda Síochána is also undertaking its own investigation. Since the investigations commenced, officials of my Department have been in regular and ongoing contact with the Dubai authorities through the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The Dubai police have provided further information as it has emerged locally over the past three months. This information has been used by the passport service and passed on to the Garda.

I have just received the report of the passport service and am considering its findings. I intend to share those findings with my Government colleagues. Officials of the passport service continue to provide assistance to the Garda Síochána in the completion of its investigation. On that basis, I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter within the next couple of weeks.

I emphasise once again the seriousness with which the Government regards any attempt to forge Irish passports, even more so to use such documents as cover for criminal activity. The Irish passport is widely regarded and respected throughout the world as being of the highest quality. Ireland has invested heavily in additional security features in order that its citizens can travel in safety. Actions which endanger Ireland's well-earned reputation in this area have the potential to affect the security of all citizens travelling overseas. The Government is determined to maintain the good name of Irish passports.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Minister for his reply. Can he confirm that he has received a final Garda report on the matter?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No. I have just received the report of the Irish Passport Office.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Very well. Will the Minister consider sharing that report's contents with Members? Ultimately, the people wish to know who abused and used Irish passports. In addition, is the aforementioned report conclusive? Does the passport service report identify clearly who used Irish passports? The Minister should indicate the current status of the Garda investigation, whether a member of the Garda Síochána travelled to Dubai to carry out part of the investigation and, if not, the reason. If Ireland is serious about this investigation, a member of the Garda would have travelled there. The Minister should also enlighten the House as to the current status of investigations by other countries and whether he has had dealings or bilateral talks with representatives of such countries in respect of information they may have obtained. If individuals or countries are identified as having been behind this action, what steps does the Government propose to take? This is a very serious matter. Much outrage was expressed at that time and I hope it will not be diluted by the passage of time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy that this is a serious matter. I undertake to share the report with the spokespersons present. While there are aspects to the report that I may not be able to publish as so doing in essence would compromise the security of the passport system itself, aside from that I wish to publish as much of the material as possible. It depends on one's definition of "conclusive". There are conclusions. Moreover, there have been conclusions to the British Serious Organised Crime Agency, SOCA, investigation. While its conclusions ultimately may not be definitive, I will cite the former British Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Miliband, who stated:

Given that this was a very sophisticated operation in which high quality forgeries were made, the [British] Government judges it highly likely that the forgeries were made by a State intelligence service. Taking this together with other inquiries and the link to Israel established by SOCA, we have concluded that there are compelling reasons to believe that Israel was responsible for the misuse of the British passports.

That was the British conclusion and was the level of conclusion to which they could arrive. I have been apprised of their report and have seen its essence. While our report makes conclusions, the Garda conclusion is not complete. Obviously, I will talk to the Deputies again in this regard. I hope to make a statement on this matter within the next couple of weeks. Before I make that statement, I will share its content with the Deputies.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I wish to pursue a further aspect of this matter that may be worthy of further answers from the Minister. It is the case that the former Foreign Secretary, Mr. David Miliband, has made a clear statement in respect of his estimation of the evidence that was available to the British Government at that time. There have been significant changes in that a British citizen has been identified by the British Government as a further suspect, that is, as the 19th suspect. This individual has been identified and has been referred to in recent reports, for example, in The Independent of London, as someone who had a valid British passport. This suspect is known to the British authorities and is suspected to be in hiding in western Europe. In the atmosphere in which Britain is pursuing this matter, it requested an official at the Israeli Embassy in London to leave. That particular official was a liaison officer with MI6. My point, which is important, is the degree to which the operation of so-called intelligence services undermines the diplomatic relations between countries and undermines foreign policy principles. The point I put to the Minister is that our position differs from that of the British but at the same time, if in fact the Minister reaches a conclusion, such a conclusion could be frustrated by the simple assertion that the actions of an intelligence service operating in the grey areas beyond diplomacy cannot be confirmed or denied. Is it not the case that the Minister has been told by the Israeli ambassador that he cannot prove anything and that, effectively, as far as the ambassador is concerned, he simply is going to stonewall on the basis that he knows nothing and will not say anything until things are proved.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The presentation by the Deputy is a fair one in some respects. There is a difference between the British position and that of Ireland along the lines outlined by the Deputy. That said, in assessing both the information we have received from other countries that have been involved by the fraudulent use of or forgeries of their passports and our own assessment, there comes a time when one must make a call. Consequently, we will do so.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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May I intervene again briefly?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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While I will allow both Deputies back in, I will allow Deputy Higgins to go first unless Deputy Timmins minds.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I will be brief. The Minister will note that my question referred to Irish passports and to EU citizens' identities. My point pertains to the evolution of the diplomatic personality of the European Union with particular reference to the evolution of Baroness Ashton's new diplomatic service. It is of absolutely crucial significance that intelligence agencies not be allowed to cross over in such a way as to endanger the development of relations between the European Union and the rest of the world. That was part of my distinction between the Irish position and that of the British.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy; if that was to happen, it would be an issue of the gravest concern. We must be vigilant to make sure the European Union External Action Service is in no way undermined by the activities of intelligence agencies or the crisscrossing or duplication. The Deputy is right to draw attention to that.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Can the Minister confirm when he received the passport service report? Does he expect to receive the Garda report on the issue or will that go the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform? Are the conclusions of the report similar to those in the British report? Has the report established how Irish passports were copied and if a link existed with the genuine passport holders? Is there any information about how the passports might have been copied?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I received the report late on Tuesday evening. I want to bring it to Government and would prefer to share its contents when I am in a position to make a statement on it.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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When can we expect that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Within two weeks.