Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to a Dáil Parliamentary Question in January 2021, if she issued a directive under section 25(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to the Garda Commissioner on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35900/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am absolutely committed to the pursuit of justice for crimes committed during the Troubles. This commitment is shared by my colleagues in Government and by An Garda Síochána.

As the Deputy will be aware, Kenova is a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases. The legal distinction between investigations and reviews is important in this context. 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 an ongoing independent analytical review by the Kenova Investigation Team into the activities of what was known as the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland. As Operation Denton is an analytical review being carried out in another jurisdiction rather than a formal criminal investigation, in order to achieve the strong desire of myself, An Garda Síochána and the Government to co-operate with Operation Denton to the maximum extent possible, it was necessary to obtain the advices of the Office of the Attorney General to confirm the available legal measures to facilitate Garda cooperation and the sharing of information.

Following receipt of advices from the Attorney General, I sought and received Government approval on 21 June to create a dedicated cooperation mechanism, following which on 23 June I signed a directive under section 25(1) of the Garda Síochána Act directing the identification and preparation for release of relevant records to Operation Denton. My Department in consultation with the Attorney General is now preparing a regulation for my signature under the Data Protection Acts to facilitate the transfer of information to Operation Denton. The directive under section 25 was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the law.