Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The response from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade had all the forcefulness of a tenant going to a landlord looking for a rent reduction. He asked for the general principle to be followed. We have brought this forward in international forums. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade should ask for a report from the British Government, outlining whether there is truth behind what Edward Snowdon revealed. He did not reveal the information for his own self motivation or profit. He did so because he saw countries acting inappropriately. Reference was made to friendly relations.

We barely pursued the hooded men case to Europe. We did so a matter of days before the deadline expired, and only because the case was being taken to the High Court. The report from the British Government should clarify whether mass surveillance is happening and what legislation is backing it up. We accept Edward Snowdon's documents, but Britain does not. We should not say we hope it is not doing anything inappropriate, rather, we should tell it to send us a report on what it is doing and what Edward Snowdon revealed.