Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The figures on call-outs of the EOD team are quite alarming. The number of call-outs in 2007 was 98, while last year it was 180. The number of hoaxes has increased by 500%, and is now one in three. The EOD team is called out on hoax calls. Obviously, the Army must respond to requests from the civil power but this is a large waste of resources. Where is this increase originating? There have been reports that ex-IRA people are assisting criminal elements in producing bombs. Given what has happened in Northern Ireland in the past few days, with the tragic death of two soldiers, the wounding of civilians and the death of the policeman last night, are there wider security issues of which we should be cognisant?

Up to 27 January this year there were four call-outs, one of which was a hoax. Does the Minister have the up-to-date figure? I feel that something is going on and it needs to be addressed. I take the point that the Garda is responsible for law and order but my concern is that there is a wider agenda that could be going further down the road in terms of undermining the State.

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