Dáil debates
Tuesday, 12 October 2004
EU Presidency.
4:00 pm
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Defence the costs to his Department arising from the Irish Presidency of the European Union between January and June 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24198/04]
Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Defence the role the Defence Forces played during the EU Presidency; the cost of that role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24273/04]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 21 together.
During Ireland's Presidency of the EU, my Department was responsible for progressing the military aspects of the European security and defence policy as well as co-ordinating the ministerial air transport service and Defence Forces aid to the civil power.
Costs to my Department arising from the Irish Presidency of the European Union come under two headings, (a) those which arose as a result of the Department's role in taking forward work in relation to the European security and defence policy and (b) those which arose as a consequence of the provision of support by the Defence Forces to the Presidency in the form of security, transport, logistical support etc. and the ministerial air transport service. Costs under (a) amounted to some €229,000. Costs under (b) amounted to some €1,409,430. Therefore, the total cost was of the order of €1,638,430.
The roles of the Defence Forces as assigned by Government are set out in the White Paper on Defence, which was published in February 2000. To aid the civil power, meaning in practice to assist when requested the Garda Síochána, which has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, is among the assigned roles. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assisted the Garda as required in duties during the Irish Presidency of the European Union. The additional costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of assistance to the Garda Síochána amounted to approximately €1,409,430. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assisted the Garda as required in duties, which included the security operation surrounding the ceremonies marking the accession of new member states to the EU on 1 May 2004.
I am advised that more than 2,500 personnel were deployed in various roles in connection with the security operation surrounding the ceremonies marking the accession of new member states to the EU on 1 May 2004. In addition, the Naval Service was on patrol in the Irish Sea and the Air Corps provided air traffic control capability and support to operations both at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel and in the Phoenix Park. The additional costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of assistance to the Garda Síochána on 1 May amounted to approximately €872,650. A breakdown of these costs follows.
The Garda also requested the support of the Defence Forces for the visit from 25 to 26 June 2004 of the US President during the US-EU summit. I am advised that approximately 2,262 members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed on security duties in connection with the visit. The additional costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of assistance to the Garda Síochána on 25 and 26 June 2004 amounted to approximately €448,000. A breakdown of these costs also follows.
The additional costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of Army drivers for the EU Presidency VIP fleet of cars amounted to approximately €88,780. A breakdown of these costs follows.
| Schedule of costings for operation on 1 May 2004 | |
| € | |
| Security Duty Allowance and Overtime | 506,780 |
| Rations | 62,120 |
| Fuel | 44,350 |
| *Tech. Stores Supplies and Equipment Hire | 259,400 |
| Total | 872,650 |
| *This item includes engineer and communications equipment supplies together with ancillary support equipment, including generators, toilets, water supply services and catering. |
| Schedule of costs associated with President Bush's visit. | |
| € | |
| ARMY | |
| General costs including Security Duty Allowance, Subsistence, Food and Fuel | 347,000 |
| 1Equipment/Materials Purchased | 24,000 |
| 2Equipment Hire | 9,000 |
| Sub-Total | 380,000 |
| NAVAL SERVICE | 7,000 |
| AIR CORPS | |
| General costs including Security Duty Allowance, Subsistence and Food | 61,000 |
| Total | â'¬448,000 |
| 1 This item includes fire-fighting equipment, electrical materials and catering equipment | |
| 2 This item includes ancillary support equipment, including generators, toilets and refrigeration units. |
Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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What was the cost to the State of the visit of US President George W. Bush for the EU-US summit? Was the figure almost €500,000?
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The EU-US summit on 25 and 26 June necessitated the US President visiting Ireland. The total cost to the Defence Forces in this regard was €448,000.