Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Government is systematically informed of the activities of foreign secret services on national territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9249/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the Government supervises co-operation between the national secret services and those of partner countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9272/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.

The Garda Síochána is the organisation responsible for providing national security services for the State. In this context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has established contacts, both multilateral and bilateral, with security services worldwide, touching on areas of mutual responsibility and interest. These contacts are in addition to any information exchanges which may be mandated by law, such as mutual assistance matters governed by the Criminal Justice Act 1994.

Moreover, section 28 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which will soon be brought into effect, provides that, with the consent of the Government, the Garda Commissioner may, on behalf of the Garda Síochána, enter into an agreement with a police service or other law enforcement agency outside the State covering the co-operation of the parties involved or the exchange of information or such other matters as the Garda Commissioner thinks fit. The Government and I are appraised of developments relating to national security by the Garda Commissioner on an ongoing basis.