Allegations that Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, is operating in the Republic deserve a more "forthright" response from the Minister for Justice, a Fine Gael TD has said.
Gay Mitchell said he would again raise the issue in the Dáil after he received a written reply to a question to Mr McDowell earlier this week about the alleged activities of MI6.
Gay Mitchell, Fine Gael
Referring to a radio interview with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams earlier this week, Mr Mitchell asked the Minister if he shared the concerns about alleged MI6 activity.
In an interview on RTE's Morning Irelandon Sinn Féin's position on policing in the North, Mr Adams mentioned "concerns about the role of MI6 in the South" but was not further questioned on that specific issue.
Mr McDowell's written reply to Mr Mitchell said he had examined a transcript of that radio interview.
"However, it is not clear what, if any, allegations are being made. Accordingly, I am not in a position to make any substantive response," he said.
In a statement today, Mr Mitchell said the allegation "clearly is that MI6 is active in the Republic".
"An allegation that a foreign security service is actively working in the Republic, made by an elected member of the UK Parliament, deserves a more forthright response," he said.
"The Minister could have replied that he is not aware of activities of MI6 in the Republic. The reply he gave adds mystery to a matter that he should have cleared up. I will raise this issue again in the Dáil."
MI6 is involved in worldwide secret intelligence gathering on issues such as terrorism, weapons proliferation and illegal drugs.
According to its website, MI6 operates world-wide to collect secret foreign intelligence in support of the British Government's policies and objectives.
MI5, the British Security Service, which is responsible for protecting Britain against threats to its national security, is currently building a new headquarters outside Belfast.
The recent St Andrews agreement unveiled by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime minister Tony Blair outlined arrangements being put in place for the handling of national security intelligence and the necessary "accountability measures" that will be in place once "lead responsibility" passes to MI5 late next year.