Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of telecommunications interception orders which he signed each year since taking office. [8858/07]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of telecommunications interception orders presently approved by his Department. [8859/07]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the categories of persons for whom telecommunications interception orders are presently in place. [8860/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 214, inclusive, together.

Lawful interception is governed by the provisions of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993. Section 2 of that Act states that an authorisation to intercept may be granted only for the purpose of the investigation of serious crime or in the interests of the security of the State. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to reveal either the categories of person to whom authorisations to intercept relate and the number of such authorisations.