Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This follows from comments yesterday when we had a discussion in the Chamber on security services. The section relates to determining the priorities for An Garda Síochána in performing its functions relating to security and security priorities. Understandably, the section is vague on what that might be because, of course, security services are sensitive. It is important that we are mindful of how we deal with this.

Subsection 4 states that, as soon as practicable, the Minister will determine security priorities and specific performance targets and that these will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. In the following section, it is stated that the Minister may exclude from the copy of security priorities matters that may, in his or her opinion, be prejudicial to the interests of the security of the State and might facilitate the commission of an offence, prejudice a criminal investigation or jeopardise the safety of any person.

In the context of what we spoke about yesterday, we have had conversations with one or two Senators in the House on security services and our intelligence services. I have previously highlighted that this is an opportunity for us to look to separate those issues from An Garda Síochána. I am concerned that we have a Bill before us, yet I understand the current policy of the State and Government is to continue to have security and intelligence services under the remit of An Garda Síochána. That poses challenges and I am not sure the Garda is the right place for those services to be.

I have said previously that there is an opportunity for the establishment of a separate intelligence service, similar to the UK, US and other countries. This section lays down that those services and security and intelligence matters will continue to come under the remit of An Garda Síochána. That is current Government policy and there are no moves to change that, but it is unfortunate that we are bringing through such a wide sweeping Bill with huge elements of policy changes, all of which are welcome. There is a lot of good stuff in here which is long overdue.

The policy changes in the Bill are the result of a very long consultative process. A report was done on this. Getting the Bill together, including all of the policy changes, has been a long process. It is a missed opportunity that we are not having a greater focus on the security and intelligence aspect of An Garda Síochána and the challenges that poses not just for the Garda but also the State. It is still under the Garda umbrella. The Bill lays out that while there will be security priorities set down for the Garda, and those will be laid before the Seanad and Dáil-----