Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the specific measures that have been undertaken to separate the security and intelligence provision of his Department from other divisions of his Department. [52051/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Security and Northern Ireland Division of my Department deals with a range of policy and legal issues relating to security and counter terrorism, serious crime, public safety, North-South justice and security co-operation and measures to address the legacy of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

I can assure the Deputy that this Division of my Department is not separated from the others given that there is a wide range of issues on which integrated and cross-stream working across the Department’s Divisions and with a range of other stakeholders outside the Department is both desirable and necessary.

That said, I can also assure the Deputy that in respect of certain of the functions that are carried out by this Division, particular arrangements are in place to protect the security of information held and managed by that Division where restrictions on access to that information may be required by law, by the need to protect the vital interests of the State, by the need to protect the life and safety of individuals or to avoid adverse impacts on the prevention, investigation or prosecution of offences.