Taoiseach highlights State's high level of vigilance

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen refused to be drawn on possible terrorist activity in the Republic.

Mr Cowen said that although there were no grounds to suggest that Ireland was at particular risk, security services maintained a high rate of vigilance.

"They are also in regular contact with other security services and there is an ongoing exchange of information and intelligence through fora such as Europol and Eurojust."

Mr Cowen said it would not be appropriate to speculate on whether there were persons active in the State whose activities were linked to international terrorism except to give the assurance that the Garda closely monitored the security situation on an ongoing basis.

The Taoiseach was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who asked if Mr Cowen was aware that, in the past six months, there had been a number of reports about al-Qaeda cells operating in Ireland.

He asked if the Government was in contact with MI5 regarding suspected terrorists living in Ireland.

In March, said Mr Kenny, three people were arrested in Tralee as part of a suspected Islamic terrorism unit in Kerry which was under Garda surveillance.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked if the National Security Committee had addressed the issue of dissident republican groups.

He asked if the Government would consider the possibility of extending the security committee's remit to address the threat posed to people's safety from organised gangland-type groups.

Mr Cowen said the security committee did not deal with operational matters which were the remit of the security services and the Garda.

"Having dissidents or any terrorist or paramilitary activity under surveillance is something in which the Garda is, thankfully, expert and has been successful."

Mr Cowen said gangland activity was an operational matter dealt with by the Garda in liaison with the Minister for Justice.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin referred to the concern, expressed by the Oireachtas Committee on European Scrutiny, about the furnishing of the personal details of airline passengers to security authorities in other jurisdictions.

Mr Cowen said the nature of the security committee's work precluded him from giving any more detailed description of its proceedings.