Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expected nature and cost of security arrangements required by the planned visit of President Bush; the purpose of visits made by members of the Garda to homes in the Shannon area requesting information on the persons likely to be staying in the houses at the end of June 2004; the purpose to which this information will be put; the legal basis on which this information is being sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16357/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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For obvious reasons, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to go into the details of the security measures being put in place in respect of President Bush's visit later this month. The Deputy will appreciate the visit is one of the aspects of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. It is customary that a meeting between the President of the United States and the holder of the Presidency of the EU take place. Extensive security arrangements are being put in place in the Shannon area. These arrangements involve not only all aspects of the US President's safety and security but also the maintenance of normal life and traffic flow in Shannon.

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that homes are being visited by members of the Garda Síochána to inform residents of the planned security arrangements and to ascertain what steps may need to be taken to ensure all residents and workers in the area can travel freely during the visit. It is in the interests of residents in the area that a survey of inhabitants take place to ensure they are not inconvenienced by whatever arrangements are put in place.

I am further informed that this information, which is given to the Garda Síochána on a voluntary basis, will be used to ensure the necessary procedures are put in place to ensure that no major inconvenience will be caused to the residents of the localities concerned.

With regard to costs, as the security arrangements are continuing and will continue until the visit is successfully concluded, it is not possible at this time to quantify the expenditure involved. I will be happy to quantify such costs for the Deputy following the event. The visit by President Bush is important nationally and, in the context of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. Accordingly, any costs involved should be considered part of the normal expenditure required for Ireland to maintain its national and international obligations vis-À-vis the United States and the European Union. The arrangements put in place for a visit by a President of the United States do not vary from President to President. We undertake to take good care of a particular President and in that regard put in place any arrangements necessary.

I am satisfied the Garda authorities are progressing security arrangements in a measured and balanced manner having regard to the nature of the visit and the corresponding requirement to minimise disruption to the affected localities.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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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.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It would be invidious of me to vary the extent of security by reference to the perceived popularity or unpopularity of any foreign visitor or Head of State. As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have a duty to uphold the rights of not just the individual concerned but the Irish people to conduct their international relations in an appropriate manner.

As I stated in my reply, the survey is voluntary. Nobody is being compelled to disclose to the Garda Síochána any information which they do not wish it to have. When putting in place a form of security cordon which encompasses any area in which there are civilian inhabitants going about their ordinary business, surveillance of progress through the area is much easier if the Garda Síochána has available to it a clear picture of who is or is not likely to be in the region at the time, to identify strangers and to facilitate in every possible way the local population by not having to unnecessarily check people out. By exercising a little politeness in advance and doing a little homework, the process will be made less painful for the community concerned.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Minister said at the outset that the normal procedures that take place in respect of every presidential visit are being adhered to. As far as I am aware, this is not the case. What is happening has not happened before. As part of the May Day security activities——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should ask a brief question because we are running out of time.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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——a circular was distributed in Castleknock. Residents were met in other areas, but this is a different area. What will happen to the information being gathered? Is it being put into a computer? Is it being processed in any fashion and who will have access to it? Does the Minister not consider that it would have been better had the normal procedures been adhered to?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Given the circumstances of the operation being put in place by members of the Garda Síochána, it is a gesture of courtesy and politeness on its part to do some homework so the tactics used to uphold security on the ground will not be unnecessarily heavy-handed or unmindful of the wishes of the inhabitants of the area in question. There is nothing sinister about the operation and the Garda Síochána would not make any wrongful use of any information it obtained. On the contrary, it will use the information to facilitate all those involved to the maximum possible extent.