An Garda Síochána

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Ceisteanna (723)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

723. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a schedule in respect of the number of instances in which the An Garda Síochána has placed tracking devices on vehicles as part of investigations into smuggling; whether these trackers left the jurisdiction, and on how many occasions per tracker, in the past ten years to date; the jurisdictions in which the tracker visited; whether it returned to the State; and the value of items intercepted and or seized as a result of these surveillance engagements, in tabular form. [44270/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

Section 13 of the Surveillance Act 2009 makes provision for the confidentiality of information in connection with the operation of the Act.

In accordance with section 12 of that Act, a designated judge is appointed to review the operation of a number of the sections of the Act including those related to approvals for the deployment of tracking devices. The designated judge reports to the Taoiseach on any matters relating to the operation of those sections. The designated judge delivered his most recent annual report to the Taoiseach in November 2023 and the report was laid before the Oireachtas.