Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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85. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received details of the phone tapping allegations highlighted in a newspaper (details supplied); if she has spoken with the Deputy whose political activist is the subject of the tapping allegations; if she has spoken with the Government Minister who was in situ in the constituency at the time the alleged phone tapping occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24388/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I have made clear to the House, it is never the practice to comment publicly on the use of these powers in any particular case. Indeed, there are restrictions in the law on the disclosure of the existence of particular interceptions.

In respect of the allegations made in reports, that the telephone of a political activist was intercepted at a time in the past, they have not been very detailed but, in any case, it would appear that they relate to matters alleged to have arisen in the early-2000s.

The appropriate person to look into the question of the operation of the law on interception and any potential abuses of that law is the Designated Judge. The functions of the Designated Judge are prescribed clearly by law and I could not seek to interfere with the exercise of those powers in any way. However, the House can be satisfied that an independent person is in place with full legal powers to address these matters. The allegations reported on recently have been brought to the attention of the Designated Judge, Ms Justice Marie Baker, and she will decide what action to take in respect of them.