Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have a problem replying to the question. The expenditure incurred on the G8 was €3.8 million. We have an obligation to ensure proper security is provided. Some of the delegations to the G8 were staying on our side of the Border in the Republic. There was no question of us looking for a financial contribution from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom Government or the PSNI towards that. It would not have been appropriate. There is constant co-operation on security issues between ourselves and the PSNI. We have a mutual interest in maintaining proper policing on the island of Ireland. It would have been out of place.

In terms of the issue the Deputy raised, I made it very clear when I was asked the question that in no circumstances would I condone any attack on any former Taoiseach, Minister or a current Member of either House, be they on the Government side or on the Opposition side. The Deputy seems to be unaware of the fact that the former Taoiseach does have security at his home. As far as I know that is the case. I am open to correction if I am wrong but as far as I know the former Taoiseach has security provided by An Garda Síochána at his home. The security advice from the Garda Síochána is that he should have such security. I totally respect that. I take no issue with it and never commented on it. The security advice I, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste get is that we should have security on our homes. There was a burglary event in my home. I do not make a complaint about it. People across the country are affected by burglaries. As the Deputy should be aware, I deal on a daily basis with serious issues related to gangland crime, subversive activity and those who are trying to reignite the war in Northern Ireland. I take advice from the Garda Síochána on that, as I do on the former Taoiseach.

The issue that arose and on which I commented was an event reported in the newspapers relating to the former Taoiseach. There was a report in a newspaper – I cannot remember which one – that the attack was as a consequence of the former Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, not having a Garda driver and that if he had been provided with one the event would not have happened. I remarked that when the Government came into office it made the decision that former taoisigh would not have Garda drivers. No Minister in the current Government, other than the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I as Minister for Justice and Equality has a Garda driver. The security advice is that we should have. I said that if the former Taoiseach required to be driven that is something he could afford to pay for himself, if for some security reason he believed he needed a driver. That was the issue I was addressing.

The electorate made a decision about issues affecting the previous Government. I would not wish to see any former member of that Government or previous Governments the object of physical assault by anybody. We live in a democracy and it is not appropriate that anyone would be treated that way. In case the Deputy has any doubt about it, I am very happy to so address the matter. They are the two issues he raised.

I did not reply to an issue that, in fairness, was raised by Deputy Finian McGrath. Of course I absolutely and totally accept that it is the job of the Opposition to ask questions on Estimates. It would be unfortunate if we had a Parliament where such questions were not raised. It is necessary to do so in a manner that is accurate and truthful and to suggest that there was something extraordinarily unusual in a Minister for Justice and Equality dealing with a Supplementary Estimate of this nature was not an accurate presentation of the facts. As I pointed out in my presentation, because of the nature of the justice area – Deputy O’Brien referred to the broad areas it covers – there will always be some areas where some of the allocated spend is not incurred. No one is suggesting one should spend money unnecessarily. There will be other areas where because of events, additional expenditure is required. In 2007 there was a Supplementary Estimate and in the following years there were financial readjustments with Supplementary Estimates from the Department of Justice and Equality. The suggestion that we were doing something exceptionally unusual today is not accurate. Of course it is right that people ask questions. I thank Deputies for their courtesy in doing so. We have dealt with some areas that are important. It is right that we engage in this procedure.