Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will be introducing new measures to tackle terrorism, given the recent attacks in Paris, France; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42646/15]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I have tabled this question in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris where a large number of people were killed. Given the fact that terrorism is global, that, whether we like it, Irish people have been caught up in terrorist attacks such as the one on the beach in Tunisia and that an Irish person was shot at the Bataclan theatre, does the Minister intend to introduce new measures to tackle terrorism as it impacts on us here?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I said in the House last week, like other open and democratic states, Ireland cannot consider itself immune from the threat posed by international terrorism. As the Deputy said, sadly, Irish people have been caught up in international terrorist attacks. The current assessment of the threat to Ireland from this source is that while an attack here is possible, it is unlikely, nor is there any specific information that an attack on Ireland is planned. The level of threat from this source is kept under constant review by An Garda Síochána. Given that the threat is evolving, the Garda Commissioner is carrying out a review and will let me know what additional requirements may arise.

European Union Justice Ministers held an emergency meeting in the week following the attacks in Paris on 13 November. Ministers were at one in seeking to progress all reasonable measures to counteract the terrorist threat. In this regard, the Council focused on several key issues, including the EU passenger name records, PNR, directive, supported by Deputies across the House, firearms, control of external borders and information-sharing of intelligence.

Co-operation between the police and intelligence services is essential. Enhanced access for EU police and security services to data and intelligence-sharing has a critical role in the fight against terrorism. Our involvement with Europol and Interpol is critical in that regard. That said, opportunities which could further enhance that co-operation must be pursued. In this regard, I am determined that An Garda Síochána will have access to the Schengen information system for terrorism and criminal purposes. I have secured additional funding of €4 million for this purpose. The necessary steps in this regard will now be taken as quickly as possible by An Garda Síochána.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I also emphasised that early agreement on the EU passenger name records directive will be important to ensure law enforcement services can have access to these data, supported by a robust framework of privacy and data protection safeguards. The Council also welcomed new common European standards for deactivating firearms and enhanced efforts to tackle the smuggling of illegal weapons.

The Deputy will be aware that I am rolling out a very significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána. In terms of recruitment, I announced recently that 600 new gardaí would be recruited in 2016, bringing to a total of 1,150 the number of new gardaí to be recruited since the Garda training college was reopened in September 2014.

Very significant investment has been made in the Garda fleet. At the end of October I announced a further €5.3 million for the purchase of an additional 260 Garda vehicles before the end of the year. This will bring to a total of €34 million the money that will have been invested in the Garda fleet since 2012. I have also secured very significant investment in Garda information and communications technology resources. Over the lifetime of the Government's capital investment programme, investment in Garda ICT will total €330 million. This will be essential to enhance and develop An Garda Síochána's capabilities into the future.

The Garda authorities have been taking all necessary security measures and the relevant agencies here co-operate closely on any threats identified. Robust emergency planning arrangements are in place to address a large range of emergencies, from flooding to national security incidents. There is an Office of Emergency Planning situated in the Department of Defence and the Minister for Defence chairs the Government’s task force on emergency planning which meets regularly. Planning arrangements for a range of emergencies are co-ordinated in this framework.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. In the past two weeks some people have expressed surprise that the Minister has not attended meetings of the National Security Committee. I appreciate that political attendance at these meetings has not been a feature until this point. However, some people have expressed surprise that neither the Minister nor the Taoiseach has attended these meetings or even insisted on attending them.

I tabled a number of parliamentary questions about the capacity of An Garda Síochána in this regard. One of the replies threw up the information that An Garda Síochána did not keep a record of the number of officers in the force who could speak languages that might be useful in monitoring the overseas terrorist threat. Will the Minister comment on that issue?

The Minister said she believed a threat was possible but unlikely. We have no reason to disbelieve her. However, there is no way of corroborating, examining or informing ourselves more on the level of threat. What is the position of the Minister and the Government on having the matter of security examined by the Oireachtas or one of its committees? In the United Kingdom Parliament the Intelligence and Security Committee was established under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 to examine policy, administration and expenditure on the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquarters. It was reformed and amended by an Act of the UK Parliament in 2013. Will the Minister, on behalf of the Government, comment on the capacity of the Oireachtas to examine security related issues? As she is aware, we do not have and have not had an opportunity heretofore to question, for example, the Garda Commissioner about them. There has been no political oversight or input.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces have long experience of dealing with dissident activity in this country and, unfortunately, continue to have to use that expertise. For decades they have had to develop a level of expertise in explosives which continue to be placed by dissidents under cars in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will have seen arrests in recent months. He will also have seen cases before the Special Criminal Court. He will understand there is ongoing contact with the PSNI where the level of threat remains severe. The professionals in both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces have built up considerable experience in dealing with terrorism. The new feature is its international dimension and the willingness of those involved to act as suicide bombers. This is extremely challenging internationally, as is the phenomenon of returned fighters.

When the Paris attacks happened, the strategic command and control centre of An Garda Síochána swung into action immediately. On the Friday evening An Garda Síochána was in touch with its international counterparts. I spent a number of hours being briefed on the Saturday afternoon. The National Security Committee has been operated between officials. The Taoiseach calls his own meetings of Ministers to discuss the information coming from that committee and to bring Ministers together to examine these important issues.

On access to language skills, the Garda Commissioner has informed me that gardaí have access to all of the language skills and resources they require to enable them to support their operational activities in dealing with persons who may be a cause of concern here.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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There has been recent reportage on the number of people who may have travelled to parts of Syria or elsewhere in the Middle East to engage, potentially, in training or acts of terrorism. It has been reported that up to 30 people may have travelled. They may have been residing in Ireland and may not necessarily have been Irish nationals or citizens. Will the Minister give us an overview of this issue? Does she know the number involved? How big a complement are we talking about who are potentially engaged in these activities?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The figure in the public arena is that approximately 30 to 40 people are known to have travelled to an area generally described as a conflict theatre which includes Syria and Iraq. On their exact behaviour once they leave the country, it is known across Europe that many travel to Syria and Iraq by way of Turkey and other countries. As the Deputy knows, there is engagement with Turkey on the security issues that arise.

An Garda Síochána would point out that people travel for a variety of reasons. Some travel for humanitarian reasons, others go to see family while a small number travel to engage more directly in the conflict. A number of people who were previously resident here, although not necessarily Irish citizens, have died abroad. Furthermore, a number of people have travelled to the conflict zone and have returned to Ireland. An Garda Síochána is very alert to any security concerns that might arise and is carefully monitoring all situations that might give rise to a threat to this country.