John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces were engaged as added security on the two recent occasions when US President Bush visited Shannon Airport; the number of personnel employed; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12184/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain security escorts etc. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me, for reasons of security, to comment on the exact nature of the deployment to Shannon Airport on 1 March and 5 March 2006.

The estimated additional cost to the Defence Forces was approximately €60,000 in respect of security duty allowance, food, fuel and hire of equipment.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Can he confirm that security was breached at Shannon on that occasion by four peace activists? Does he agree we were very lucky that those people were peaceful? Does he share my concerns that security at Shannon could be breached at some stage by terrorists? Is he confident the Defence Forces will be in a position to defend the Irish people from a serious terrorist attack at Shannon? I understand the Minister is responsible for emergency planning but is an emergency plan in place to deal with such an attack? Given the declaration in the Constitution that there is only one army in the State is he happy that the Commander in Chief of a foreign army addressed his troops at Shannon Airport?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the incident to which Deputy Gormley refers. I do not have much detail on it but believe it was a minor incident. In such situations the Garda Síochána requests the assistance of the Army, which is entitled to go to the aid of the civil power, namely the Garda, when they are in need of assistance. The Garda made such a request in this case, as is normal when a Head of State, especially one of such a major power as America, visits Shannon Airport. The Army studied the request and was satisfied that it was appropriate to aid the civil power in this case. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, whom I consult on these matters, is satisfied that the amount of troops deployed alongside the gardaí was commensurate with the risk.

Ireland is happy to provide security for any American President who might land at Shannon, regardless of whether the Government of the day or individual Ministers agree with his policies. If, for example, a member of Deputy Gormley's party becomes president of the US and lands at Shannon we will equally provide security for him or her.

I am satisfied that Irish troops have sufficient training. There is a Ranger Wing and the force possesses a wide range of equipment and is provided with specific training for situations of this kind.

As Deputy Gormley said, the Constitution provides that only one legal army can exist in the State. We are satisfied that the provisions for allowing troops to transit through Shannon Airport do not contravene that provision. The Deputy asked if I was happy that the Commander in Chief of a foreign army addressed troops at Shannon Airport. As I understand it no meeting was planned but President Bush happened to meet the troops as they were transiting through the airport and he took the opportunity to talk to them as their Commander in Chief. I do not have any difficulty with that.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Minister said he was satisfied the Army Rangers could cope with a terrorist attack on Shannon.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I said the Army, including the Rangers.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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He did not answer the question on whether an emergency plan existed to deal with an emergency attack on Shannon.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It does.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Can he outline what it entails?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It entails a number of elements. First, the medical fallout will be dealt with by the Department of Health and Children, which has an emergency public health plan to deal with such situations. The Army and the Garda Síochána have had specific training to deal with such an eventuality. It is impossible for me to guarantee we can successfully prevent a terrorist attack. Larger countries than ours have failed to do so but we are as prepared as we can be. If the attack involves chemical weapons or nuclear fallout the specific plans include the deployment of trained staff and equipment, among other things. The matter is discussed at least every month by the emergency planning committee.