Terrorists in Ireland may be plotting attacks in other parts of Europe, the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today.
Reports in the weekend media suggested terrorist cells may have been engaged in fund-raising and planning from Ireland, and Mr McDowell today said radical groups may be basing themselves in Ireland to avail of the common travel area between the State and the UK.
He revealed the state's worries as British Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed to defeat the terrorists who bombed London last week.
"In the past there has been evidence that some people in Ireland, who have an extremist point of view, have been engaging in logistical support activities for terrorist type activities in Europe and elsewhere," Mr McDowell said.
"It wouldn't be beyond the bounds of possibility that terrorists would exploit the common travel area in order to perpetrate acts of terrorism in Britain.
"So it is a matter of very major significance to the Irish State that there should be the fullest possible co-operation between the two jurisdictions in respect of this kind of activity and the fullest possible sharing of intelligence."
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last week revealed that police were monitoring al Qaeda sympathisers in Ireland as part of a massive international security operation.
In the aftermath of the London bombings, Mr Ahern said he did not believe Ireland was under serious threat of attack. He admitted security services were closely monitoring certain people in the Republic.
"We take that very seriously, the gardai work very, very closely with international security and we do watch certain individuals very very closely," Mr Ahern said.
Mr McDowell today confirmed the movements and activities of several individuals throughout the state were being closely monitored. "We are talking about a number of people who are under surveillance and whose activities are the subject of interest by the intelligence services of this island state," he told RTE radio.
"I have been in the closest possible contact with UK and US intelligence services in relation to this. There is a sharing of information and close co-operation."
PA