Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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64. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has requested the Garda Commissioner to explain when and the way in which the information contained in the intelligence report that led to the expulsion of a Russian diplomat came to light regarding the activities of the person concerned; the number of meetings that took place between An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and other organisations in relation to completing the intelligence report; and if he is satisfied that An Garda Síochána has been appropriately monitoring this reported security threat. [16538/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government affords the highest priority to the State’s security.

An Garda Síochána carries out a range of functions in safeguarding our national security, including actions to counter terrorist threats, to support international security and to protect the State and its vital interests, where necessary, from espionage and unlawful acts of foreign interference.

In this regard, the Garda Authorities work very closely with their colleagues in the Defence Forces on an ongoing basis and they engage with all other relevant authorities as necessary. The Authorities here also co-operate on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in other states.

As the House will appreciate, it is the longstanding policy not to comment on the detail of specific security arrangements that may be put in place. To reveal the detail of such arrangements would be quite simply to undermine them and to hand advantage to those who my wish to do harm to people or to the State’s vital interests. I do not propose to depart from the longstanding practice of my predecessors in this regard.