Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

This relates again to security arrangements of the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama. They were primarily a matter for the Garda. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Síochána.

With regard to these successful visits, the roles played by the Defence Forces included search, surveillance, security operations, etc., and guarding vital installations. This question should have been taken with the earlier question because the same information is being provided.

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