asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the precautions taken in the Post Office to prevent the tapping of telephones, other than under warrant signed by the Minister for Justice; if he considers the present precautions adequate; if he will consider reviewing the precautions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: It would not be in the public interest to disclose the precautions taken. The arrangements are reviewed periodically to determine whether they could be improved and are being so reviewed at present.

: Is the Minister aware of the widespread belief that the number of official warrants issued is only a small proportion of the actual taps made?

: That question could be more appropriately tabled to the Minister for Justice. All I can say is this: great efforts are made to ensure that only lawful warrants are executed and that there is no illegal tapping of telephones. I have instituted a review to see how we can improve these precautions and that review is going on at present.

: Can the Minister give a guarantee that there are no unofficial telephone taps at present?

: I want to make it absolutely clear that there are no taps in existence other than lawfully warranted taps of which I am aware and great precautions are taken to ensure that that is the case. In those circumstances it is wrong that Deputy De Rossa should make unwarranted allegations.

5.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider introducing legislation to provide severe penalties for any person found guilty of unlawful telephone tapping.

: Under the existing law it is an offence for a member of the staff of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to intercept a telephone message contrary to his duty. The penalty laid down is imprisonment.

The legal position in regard to telephone tapping by other persons and in regard to other unauthorised access to telephone calls is being reviewed at present with the object of introducing further legislation to cover them.

: Does the Minister not see any implied indication in the question that there is unlawful tapping, and would he not make the same admission to his brother?

: There is no implied admission whatever. I can assure the House and the Deputy that all possible precautions are taken by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to ensure that there is no illegal tapping of telephones. We are now reviewing those precautions in an effort to improve them. Included in that review is consideration of legislation to provide for severe penalties for such unofficial tapping.

: I thought there might be supplementaries from opposite on that question.