Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

Will the Minister agree there is no popular support for the visit by President Bush to Ireland at this time? The cost of the May Day security arrangements must have been quite extensive given the Minister already declared in this House that some 5,000 gardaí were on duty that day. Given the considerable hostility and opposition to President Bush's visit, will the Minister provide the House with the number of gardaí likely to be on duty during the visit? I will be happy to submit a question regarding costs at a later date.

What is more sinister is the fact that the Garda Síochána is conducting a survey of every home in the Shannon area. Why is a survey being conducted? If one wants to inform people of the plans and security arrangements for the visit, why not issue them with a circular? It is not necessary that one should survey each occupant of a house. On what legal basis is the survey taking place? For what purpose will the private and sensitive information collected be used? Perhaps the Minister will clarify why a survey, as distinct from the distribution of a circular, is the method by which people are being informed of the arrangements being put in place.

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