he Aontú leader has written to Micheál Martin to ask for a cross-party, confidential briefing as Ireland faces its biggest modern hybrid warfare threat.
He said it is standard parliamentary practice to give such a cross-party briefing at a time of emergency, and such sharing of key information is good for public trust and confidence.
In a letter, he said: “I write to you today to request that opposition leaders are given a security briefing on bomb threats to schools, media and airlines in the State.
“The country is on high alert as we prepare to host the EU summit tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, as part of Ireland hosting the EU presidency. In the run-up to this major event, these threats have already caused chaos and confusion across the country for the past two weeks.
“Airlines, schools and media organisations have been targeted with hoax bomb threats; cyberattacks on supermarkets has proven these tactics can affect our food supply. In the face of this threat, the biggest garda operation in the history of the state is currently underway.
“The garda commissioner Justin Kelly says the force has the technology and resources to deal with the threats. Defence Minister Helen McEntee assures us the country is absolutely prepared to respond to any type of risk or threat. You have said we will go after whoever is responsible and hold them accountable. We have no information on why there is such certainty.
“Currently, people are in the dark about what is happening. They do not – and should not have to – blindly trust in the Government’s confidence on this issue. As you know, in such an extraordinary situation, it is standard parliamentary practice to give a cross-party confidential briefing to opposition leaders on the matter. Indeed it happened during the pandemic. Other countries give such security updates to relevant parliamentarians in times of emergency.
“I ask that confidential information on the threats facing Ireland is shared with opposition leaders, for public trust. A vacuum of information is in nobody’s interest. I ask that you consider a briefing for opposition party leaders.”
