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Ireland may be better at spying than Europe thinks

Readers respond to claims that Ireland ranks at the bottom of Europe’s intelligence league

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Tue Aug 11 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir,-L’Express claims Ireland ranked bottom in Europe’s table of secretive spying services, (Overheard, August 8th). Perhaps we are in fact at the top. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL O’LEARY,

Ballsbridge,

Dublin 4.

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Sir, – The fact that the European spymasters think Ireland’s intelligence agencies to be non-existent just goes to show how good we are at it. – Yours, etc,

CHRISTOPHER KAVANAGH,

Donaghmede

Dublin 13.

Sir, – The author of your article on Ireland being ranked bottom of the international spying league (clearly has not been added to their local community WhatsApp group or noticed the surge in doorbell video cameras. – Yours, etc,

BEN McCABE,

Mountpleasant Avenue,

Rathmines,

Dublin 6.

[ Ireland ranked bottom of Europe’s spying league ]