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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
High-security intelligence hub to be built at Garda HQ under long-delayed national upgrade
A new multi-storey, high-tech facility for Ireland's internal security service is to be built at Garda HQ, the Irish Examiner understands. The project marks a significant investment in Ireland's security infrastructure and capabilities but comes nearly seven years after the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) urged such investment and prioritisation. The facility is expected to take five years to build and fit out, and will provide high levels of physical and cyber security. The Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service (GNCSIS), currently located within the existing Garda HQ complex in Phoenix Park, will move into the new building. It is understood that the service could be expanded as part of the development, though details remain unclear. The GNCSIS is both a security and organised crime intelligence service. It also has a large operational arm, including firearms operations and anti-terrorism investigations. The new facility is being built under the renewed National Development Plan, published this week. The building will be located on the existing Garda HQ site and will comprise a multi-storey, bespoke facility built to high standards of physical and cyber security. The facility is seen as a key element in strengthening the GNCSIS, which serves as Ireland's internal security service. The CoFPI report, published in September 2018, stated that the Garda's security and intelligence capability 'must be strengthened.' It called for a 'ring-fenced budget' and the ability to 'recruit specialist expertise — analytical, technological, and legal — directly and quickly.' It said this was a 'matter of urgency,' as international terrorism and organised crime are constantly evolving, and it assessed the risks to the State as 'serious.' Those particular recommendations have yet to be implemented but are expected to be examined as part of the review of 'national security structures' promised under the Programme for Government. It is believed that this internal review — currently being carried out by the National Security Committee, which includes senior civil servants and top Garda, Defence Forces, and cyber officials — is ongoing. The investment in Garda security structures comes just days after a judge overseeing the use of phone-tapping powers urged that the role and powers of military intelligence in State security be clarified in legislation. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor said the Irish Military Intelligence Service (IMIS) moved into a 'new bespoke secure facility' last March. 'The new facility is a welcome development and affords a modern and professional aspect,' he said. 'The new building is purpose-built to top secret clearances and security specifications.' While An Garda Síochána is responsible for internal security, including State security, the Defence Forces are also tasked with State protection, particularly against external threats. CoFPI recommended the creation of a national security analysis and coordination body under the Department of the Taoiseach. One of its primary tasks would be clarifying the roles of Garda and military intelligence and ensuring 'no overlap' between them. This clarity has not yet been achieved, despite the wishes of Garda and military intelligence. The National Security Analysis Centre (NSAC), set up under the Department of the Taoiseach, never established a coordination function for intelligence agencies. The ongoing national security review is expected to examine this issue. NSAC also failed to produce a National Security Strategy, which was initially expected in 2021 and meant to cover the 2020–2025 period. NSAC was quietly dissolved as a standalone body earlier this year and now operates as a secretariat within the department. It is expected to finally publish Ireland's first National Security Strategy later this year. Read More Gardaí investigating teenage gang attacks on Indian nationals
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Government urged to clarify military intelligence powers in new phone tapping legislation
An oversight judge on phone tapping said it was 'imperative' the Government urgently clarified in law the roles and powers of military intelligence in safeguarding the security of the State. In his 2025 report, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor said the Defence Forces recently built a new high-security facility for the Irish Military Intelligence Service (IMIS). The service moved into the building last March, but the service is still awaiting Government measures to modernise and legislate for its national security remit. Mr O'Connor is the designated judge for the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages Act 1993 and Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, as amended by the 2022 act. In his report to the Taoiseach for May 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025, Judge O'Connor repeated his calls for online communication, including encrypted services to be included in the laws. This includes Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. The interception legislation is now 32 years old and successive governments have promised updated laws, with the current administration telling the Dáil a draft bill is due later this year. An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces utilise powers of interception, the former for the investigation of serious crime and State security and the latter for State security only. Other agencies, such as Revenue and Fiosrú (formerly Gsoc), have powers under the 2011 act on communication (not content) data. The role of designated judges have now been taken over by the new independent examiner of security. Mr O'Connor, like designated judges before him, does not provide statistical data on the number of phone interceptions, with Mr O'Connor maintaining he sees 'little merit' in doing so. The High Court judge said applications from the gardaí were 'low' and were 'down in numbers', adding all were granted by the minister for justice. 'The number of authorisations granted pursuant to section 4 [serious offence investigations] were not significantly higher than those made under section 5 [security of the State],' the judge said. In his previous, 2024 report, he said the number of interceptions 'relative to the State's population size appear low'. He said the existing and anticipated developments on communication known to An Garda Síochána 'should be accommodated' in the new legislation. Mr Justice O'Connor said military intelligence moved to a 'new bespoke secured facility' last March. 'The new facility is a welcome development and affords a modern and professional aspect,' he said. 'The new building is purpose-built to top secret clearances and security specifications.' He said the old Irish Military Intelligence Service building, which they had used since the 1980s, was transferred to new Joint Cyber Defence Command in May. Judge O'Connor pointed out military intelligence uses the acts only in matters relating to the security of the State and the integrity of its institutions. It is for intelligence purposes only. The report said the use of the 1993 and 2011 acts for military intelligence 'was limited' over the last 11 months, but added the 'significance and value of those provisions for the PDF should not be underestimated'. He said he supported the 'urgent call' made by the Commission on the Defence Forces in its February 2022 report for clarification of the role, functions and powers of military intelligence in new legislation. 'There is an imperative to clarify the role, functions and powers of the IMIS in underpinning legislation,' he said. Read More National Development Plan allocates almost €4bn for defence and justice capital spends
