British bugging raised in Dáil
The discovery of a sophisticated listening and tracking device in a
car used by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and chief negotiator
Martin McGuinness was raised in the Dáil during Taoiseach's Questions
this week by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Tony Blair refused to
answer questions on the bugging find, giving the stock British
government answer that they do not comment on `security matters'. Ó
Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he had raised the issue with the
British Prime Minister and what response he had received. He asked the
Taoiseach ``if he regards it as unacceptable that the British Prime
Minister maintains a total and self-imposed silence on the issue and
on the monitoring by British Intelligence of all telecommunications
contact in and out of this island, as was recently revealed?''
The last point was a reference to the revelation that all telephone,
fax and e-mail calls in and out of Ireland were monitored by British
intelligence at a facility at Capenhurst Tower in Cheshire throughout
the 1980s and early 1990s. This facility has now closed but it is
presumed the monitoring continues elsewhere.
While Bertie Ahern said he raised the car bugging with Blair and ``made
the point strongly'' his reply to the Sinn Féin TD's supplementary
question showed a weakness in the Dublin government's approach as
Ahern effectively excused these espionage activities. Ó Caoláin said:
``I want the Taoiseach to express his view. Does he share my view that
this is unacceptable and the [British government's] silence must be
interpreted as a statement of culpability and responsibility?'' Ahern
responded:
``The silence is consistent, as is always the case regarding these
issues. I have made clear my views and those of the Government and the
House. I hope normality will be restored so these more extreme
security actions will not be necessary. The British government would
like to reach that position as soon as it can. It must listen to its
security staff, which is the way all governments operate. We do the
same - the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law
Reform must listen to security reports. I will not criticise the
British prime minister because he listens to his security staff, as I
do the same.''
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)