The Justice Minister says that the gardai are very aware of any potential terrorist threats to Ireland.

Frances Fitzgerald says however the Europol and Interpol criminal databases need to be better co-ordinated if countries are to effectively fight terrorism.

Her comments come as the European Parliament considers introducing laws that would give police across the EU access to our flight, train and ferry travel details.

Minister Fitzgerald says that the gardai are very aware of any threats here.

It also emerged today that Irish Defence Forces have provided the CIA with information on Irish citizens obtained from eavesdropping on telephone calls.

The Sunday Times reports that the calls of Irish citizens suspected of being involved in Islamic extremist groups have been monitored - with information passed to foreign intelligence services.

The paper reports that the information given to the US mainly concerns Muslims who have become Irish citizens.

Some of them have been accused of being involved with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

It is also claimed that the CIA has offered to train members of the Defence Forces here on ways to identify potential jihadists.