Military could snoop on TDs

THE Minister for Defence has not categorically ruled out the possibility of military intelligence files being maintained on some TDs and senators.

In a written response to a parliamentary question, Willie O’Dea stated the army’s military intelligence section did not maintain files on politicians or political activists per se.

But in a qualifying paragraph, the minister conceded: “It would only be in cases where a person, or a group to which he or she belonged, was considered to pose a potential threat to the security interests of the State that it might be considered appropriate to monitor such activities.”

Mr O’Dea was replying to a question from Green Party TD Dan Boyle who asked if his attention was drawn to military intelligence keeping files on serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and the number of such files that may be in existence.

The minister said the Garda Siochána and the Defence Forces gather and share information and assessments in relation to perceived or emerging security threats.

He further explained: “Mutual assistance and co-operation is maintained between the Irish security services and those of other like-minded countries to ensure effective flow of relevant intelligence.”

Mr O’Dea said the gardaí was responsible for the internal security of the State but that army intelligence played a complementary role, primarily in relation to the gathering and analysis of intelligence on paramilitary activities.