asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the circumstances and information which led to the Government decision to expel a number of Soviet diplomats from this country; the source of the information on which the decision was based; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

9.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government consulted with or advised any other Government prior to their decision to expel a number of Soviet diplomats from this country.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.

In reply to the Deputies, I have nothing to add to the statement made by the Taoiseach on 9 September last on this matter.

The Minister will recall that the Minister for Foreign Affairs was out of the country at the time this major diplomatic offensive took place. He was in Japan, as I recall. Does that mean that the Minister for Foreign Affairs was not aware that the expulsion of these diplomats was about to take place or was it a hasty and sudden decision taken while he was away? Did the Minister for Foreign Affairs consider that the security of the State was endangered from whatever activities were taking place or was it the security of some other State?

While appreciating the Deputy's sensitivity with regard to the people who were expelled, I think it is an exaggeration to describe this as a political offensive. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was fully aware of what was involved and the Minister of State at that Department took charge of the matter in his absence.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said in a statement made in Japan that only one single incident was involved. Can the Minister confirm that this was correct and can we have any indication of where this incident took place?

I do not know if the Deputy would have more knowledge than we have about this matter. In matters of this nature it is not the practice to give any details of the incidents behind the scenes.

Would the Minister say, in regard to the implication in Deputy Mac Giolla's second last question, that different considerations would arise — and much more venial ones — had it been another country's security which was being imperilled by these diplomatic activities rather than our own, whether it would make any difference in the eyes of his Department that an ordinary diplomat should be imperilling anybody's security here?

I agree.

Is the Minister satisfied that other people attached to embassies accredited to Dublin are not involved in unacceptable activities that would undermine the Government's confidence in them or involved in the intelligence activities of other diplomatic sources in Dublin? Is he aware of suggestions that MI5 and MI6 are involved in espionage here? Does he feel that the British Embassy may have something to do with this?

I am not aware of any improper activities by any other embassies and if Deputy Andrews has any such information I should be glad if he would give it to us.

That seems to be a separate question.

In relation to the Minister's reply that it is not normal practice to make statements on matters of this kind, does he regard it as adequate or appropriate for unofficial leaks and unattributable versions of what was happening to be made available to the media?

I have never heard of an official leak. We do not practice such a thing.

Do not be so unctuous.

Deputy Lenihan is horrified.

I am not aware that there have been any such leaks in regard to this incident. There has been an inordinate amount of press speculation which, to justify itself, tends to suggest that it is acting on some source. That may give the impression that there has been a leak but I am not aware of any substance in any of the speculation I have seen.

The Minister will appreciate that this is an important topic.

To some people.

It refers not just to the Soviet diplomats but to the great number of embassies here. Could the Minister state which element of Irish State security was endangered by whatever activities were being engaged in?

I have no intention of adding to what has already been said in this matter.