Mr. Martin Callinan:

The Deputy is quite right and he has described non-public duty well - namely, duty at concerts and large sporting fixtures in particular. Generally, local Garda management sits down the organisers and discusses the policing plan - that is, the terms required to police the events effectively. It has not always been the case that expectations are met in terms of the amount of money for which we ask. In more recent times, however, committees have sat and rates have been struck with concert promoters, etc.

There is always a debate on what is representative of public duty. For example, sporting events have a community value. Therefore, there are obligations on the Garda to act in the public interest and provide a certain level of service. Large commercial considerations include concerts, etc. There has always been a disparity, but we have narrowed it down. When we enter a negotiation with a concert promoter or large sporting body, we generally set out the number of gardaí required. Depending on the day of the week, the time of day, bank holidays, etc., we factor in all of the allowances that the gardaí would normally receive and match them with our invoice for the event.