Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has sought assurances from the Government of the United Kingdom and the US Administration that no surveillance has been conducted in this State by those authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48976/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Following allegations of US surveillance of European Union institutions earlier this year, the EU has engaged regularly with the US authorities in both Washington and Brussels to seek clarification on the issues raised. An EU-US High Level Expert Group on data protection has been established, where this and related matters are discussed. The EU is represented on this working group by the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council and the European External Action Service (EEAS), and the work of the group is ongoing. A number of meetings have already taken place in Brussels and in Washington, most recently on 6 November in Brussels. Following this work, the Commission and the Presidency are expected to issue a public, factual report which will be followed by an assessment and recommendations before the end of the year.

As regards the allegations of spying on EU delegations, High Representative Catherine Ashton raised EU concerns directly with US Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice on several occasions. I understand that more contacts at various levels have been established since to further discuss the allegations and obtain clarifications on the surveillance activities undertaken by the US with regard to EU delegations.

At their European Council meeting of 24/25 October last, EU Heads of State and Government issued a statement on the more recent developments concerning possible intelligence issues and the deep concerns that these events have raised among European citizens. They underlined the close relationship between Europe and the United States and the value of that partnership. They expressed their conviction that the partnership must be based on respect and trust, including as regards the work and cooperation of secret services.

For our part, and as I have outlined in a reply to a previous parliamentary question, the Government’s concerns have been conveyed bilaterally in contacts with the US Embassy in Dublin. While the House will appreciate that it is not the practice to comment in detail on surveillance and security issues and that the Minister for Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in this area, we do not have any information that would indicate that surveillance took place here in Ireland. It has been made clear to the US Embassy however that any such surveillance here would be unacceptable to us.

There are no allegations as regards surveillance by the UK authorities.