Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1348. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of her plans to establish the necessary mechanism to allow relevant information from An Garda Síochána be shared with Operation Denton; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30393/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy refers to Operation Denton, which is  an ongoing independent analytical review in the United Kingdom into the activities of what was known as the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland.

Operation Denton forms part of the work of the Kenova Investigation Team with regard to a series of Northern Ireland legacy cases.

An Garda Síochána is committed to cooperating to the greatest extent possible with Kenova and already has in place a High Level Agreement which supports mutual co-operation and exchange of information with the Operation Kenova Investigation Team in the context of criminal investigations. The Historical Investigation Coordination Unit within An Garda Síochána continues to support this work. 

Operation Denton is a distinct strand in the work of Kenova, an analytical review rather than a criminal investigation and, in the circumstances, it was necessary to obtain the advices of the Office of the Attorney General with regard to the available legal measures to facilitate cooperation. The Deputy will appreciate that the necessary information sharing framework  must be in place to facilitate cooperation between An Garda Síochána and Operation Denton.

Following receipt of advices from the Attorney General, work is nearing completion in my Department on an appropriate mechanism to facilitate this cooperation.

I can assure the Deputy of my continuing commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána in pursuing this work and in providing assistance to the greatest extent possible.