MEETING WITH THE IRISH REGARDING HOMELAND SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000003 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018 TAGS: ASEC CMGT CVIS PTER PGOV PREL EI SUBJECT: MEETING WITH THE IRISH REGARDING HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 6 REF: 08 STATE 101569 Classified By: PEO Chief Ted Pierce. Reasons 1.4(b/d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 11, a USG delegation consisting of State Department and Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) officials briefed Irish government officials on the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 (HSPD-6) process and on what is expected from the Irish government. The Irish were in listening mode but had several questions, especially on the link with continued Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participation. The Irish side indicated they would share the draft HSPD-6 agreement and the information gathered at the briefing with their Attorney General's office and would provide a response (through Post) in "a timely manner." End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Participants: Irish Government -- Martin Power, Department of Justice -- Dermot Woods, Department of Justice -- Gerry Moloney, Department of Justice -- Tim Maher, Garda Siochana (the Irish law enforcement agency) -- Peter Kirwan, Garda Siochana -- Grainne Hayes, Department of Foreign Affairs U.S. Government -- Diane Bean, State Department -- Rick Kopel, TSC -- Lyn Brown, TSC -- Wayne Dillingham, TSC -- Emely Simone, State Department -- Jennifer Duval, U.S. Embassy -- Brian Murphy, U.S. Embassy -- Dwight Nystrom, U.S. Embassy ¶3. (SBU) U.S. Delegation head Diane Bean opened by giving a broad overview and history of the program. Rick Kopel, Principal Deputy Director of the TSC, followed with a detailed explanation of the mechanics of the program and how data is actually shared. Kopel stressed that the final data sharing arrangement should be of benefit to both parties and that his hope was to dispel any apprehension about what the U.S. government is looking for from the Irish government. The Irish officials were largely in listening mode but did have several questions following the U.S. delegation's presentation. Irish Concerns -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Irish participants were first and foremost interested in the link between HSPD-6 and the VWP. On the link with the VWP, Bean explained that U.S. law, among other things, requires that all VWP countries must agree to share data on known or suspected terrorists with the U.S. government. Bean said that DHS has determined that entering into an arrangement to share terrorist screening information under the terms of HSPD-6 fulfills this requirement. ¶5. (C) Several participants sought clarity on the amount and type of information that the Irish government would be asked to provide. Kopel explained that there was not a one-size-fits-all agreement but, rather, the terms of the agreement will be shaped by the negotiations and by what the Irish are legally able to provide. He noted that the Irish will not be required to share as much data as the U.S. will, unless they choose to. In a subsequent conversation with Econoff, Martin Power said that the briefing was "very well received" by his Irish colleagues and that it allayed many of their (and his) initial concerns. Next Steps -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Closing the meeting, Martin Power indicated that he would share the information gathered at the meeting and discuss the proposal with the Irish Attorney General's office. Once he received feedback from that office and coordinated with all interested Irish government agencies, he indicated that he would contact "in a timely manner" the U.S.'s negotiating team through the Embassy to discuss next steps. The U.S. delegation said they hoped to be able to begin more substantive discussions in the near future. ¶7. (U) The U.S. delegation has cleared on this message. FAUCHER