404 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, arising from a media report (details supplied), he will establish whether claims that the telephones of Ministers were tapped under warrant of the Department of Justice in the Haughey led Government of 1982 are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13977/01]

It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose if an authorisation to intercept has or has not been given in any particular case. It is the case that on 20 January 1983 one of my predecessors, Deputy Noonan, made a number of public statements arising from a comprehensive investigation which he had undertaken into certain matters relating to the interception of communications. Those statements contained no suggestion of the kind referred to by the Deputy.