Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the investigation that has been held into the circumstances in which a highly confidential Garda file on the operations of a criminal gang, prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, was brought to a Dublin city centre shop for photocopying; if he will confirm that the report was seen by a person who subsequently communicated information to the person referred to in it; the steps that are being taken to avert such a serious breach of security in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35364/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the Garda Commissioner that, in the course of preparing a comprehensive investigation file into the criminal activities of an organised criminal group for consideration by the DPP, a small but nonetheless important portion of the investigation file was brought under Garda supervision to the premises in question. During the course of the Garda visit to the premises, and while a designated member of staff was dealing with the printing request, members of An Garda Síochána became aware that this person communicated with a third party without the consent of An Garda Síochána. The Garda members present on the premises took immediate action to eliminate any risk of further exposure of this portion of the Garda investigation file.

The involvement of the designated member of staff with the third party in this matter is the subject of a continuing Garda investigation, and it would be inappropriate to comment further on this at this time. While the Commissioner is satisfied that the members of An Garda Síochána concerned acted in good faith in this matter, he is taking all steps necessary to avoid any recurrence of such an incident, including the issuing of a Garda Headquarters Directive instructing members on the appropriate measures to be taken in compiling investigation files.