TD seeks details of overheard phonecalls

The Government should request that Germany supply any information relating to Irish economic interests that may have been compromised as a result of US bugging of chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.

The call was made by Independent Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly, who said while it’s not known if the National Security Agency (NSA) was spying on Irish politicians, the country’s economic welfare may have been compromised if Ms Merkel discussed Ireland’s economic interests with others such as Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister.

Mr Donnelly said that discussions Ms Merkel may have had about the retrospective recapitalisation of Irish banks, the IMF deal, and our corporation tax would have been of significant interest to the US.