The Government has decided to delay publishing its response to the use of fake Irish passports in a recent secret service assassination, Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin said today.
Mr Martin said he did not want the scandal to be clouded by massive international outrage over the storming of Gaza-bound aid ships and the killing of nine activists by Israeli military.
A report recommended the expulsion of the officer after it concluded that Israel forged Irish passports used by suspects in the murder of a Hamas official in Dubai.
The Irish Times learned that the recommendation arose following the consideration of two reports – one from the Garda and the other from the Department of Foreign Affairs passport service – concerning the use of eight fake Irish passports by those allegedly responsible for assassinating Mahmoud Al Mabhouh.
“I do intend to bring proposals to Government, as I indicated yesterday, in relation to the appropriate action deemed to be necessary in response to that situation but I want to draw clear separation between that particular issue and what has happened earlier this week,” Mr Martin said.
Both Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Minister refused to be drawn on whether the reports recommended an embassy employee be expelled from Ireland.
“I made it very clear yesterday, for good reasons and I think it’s been accepted by most people who have been following these events, that there is no way I was going to take action or announce the action on Monday or Tuesday in the light of what transpired in relation to the flotilla,” the Minister said.
A total of eight Irish passports were used by the hit squad linked to the assassination of Mr Mabhouh, who founded Hamas’s military wing.
While the number and expiry date on the passports were authentic, the names did not match.
Mr Martin added: “When I bring it to Government and I have made the decision it will clearly be in the context of what happened in Dubai and the forging of Irish passports and the appropriate response to the Irish Government in relation to that.
“I didn’t want that to get completely lost in terms of what was transpiring [of the coast of Gaza] from early Monday morning onwards.”
Mr Cowen earlier said he could not comment on the report recommending the expulsion of a security officer at the Israeli embassy.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny questioned Mr Cowen about the matter during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil.
“Can the Taoiseach confirm that is what the report contains and can he confirm that the report recommends the expulsion of a security officer from the Israeli embassy and is it the intention of the government to act on that matter swiftly?” Mr Kenny asked.
Mr Cowen said the Government would soon decide on what action would be taken concerning the use of fake Irish passports by those allegedly responsible for the assassination of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh.
“The Government is anxious that this important matter be given the attention and focus it merits, that it not become mixed up with the events off the coast of Gaza,” he said. “It remains Mr Martin’s intention to very shortly propose to the Government the action he believes appropriate in this case. The Government is on record about the gravity with which it views the fraudulent use of Irish passports or passport details.”
Mr Cowen said, however, he did not wish to anticipate the action the Minister might take and he could not comment on today’s report.
Israel’s ambassador to Ireland Zion Evrony declined to comment on the issue today. He said it was a “confidential matter”.
Additional reporting: PA