Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to the increased number of hoax call-outs in 2008 to deal with suspect explosive devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9775/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, ATCP, assist the Garda as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of An Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The explosive ordnance disposal, EOD, team responds when a request is made by An Garda Síochána to the relevant brigade, for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance.

The devices that the Defence Forces encounter in these situations include viable improvised explosive devices, IEDs, which have all the components of a bomb and are set to detonate, and elaborate hoaxes where a device is made to look as if it could explode. The Defence Forces EOD team is required to treat all suspect devices as real until the EOD officer confirms the nature of the suspect device. The determination as to whether a suspect device is viable or hoax can be made only following detailed inspection by the EOD officer. When the EOD team is satisfied the suspect device has been rendered safe, the remains of the device are handed over to An Garda Síochána for forensic examination and investigation.

There are well established channels of consultation and co-operation between representatives of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. These consultations take the form of meetings, discussions, briefings and technical analysis. I have also discussed the situation on a number of occasions informally with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. EOD operations are discussed at regular meetings of the improvised explosive device, IED, working group. The Defence Forces also liaise with An Garda Síochána in the technical analysis of evidence recovered from EOD operations.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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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.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Not to put too fine a point on it, I agree with Deputy O'Shea that the recent trend has been quite alarming. In 2006, there were 101 call-outs, eight of which were hoaxes. The figures for 2007 were 98 and 11, respectively. In 2008, there were 180 call-outs, 58 of which turned out to be hoaxes. I have the up-to-date figures to 5 March. There were 32 call-outs, which seems to be a repeat of the pattern last year, and the number of hoaxes was ten, which, again, at approximately one in three is a repeat of last year's pattern. That is worrying.

The explosives ordinance team gets the request from the Garda and it has to act on it. There is a difference between hoax calls and calls to hoax devices. The fire service receives hoax calls but the calls received by the explosives ordinance team are from the Garda Síochána to investigate a device. A pattern is evident but as to who appears to be behind it or to what it is linked, that is a matter for the Garda Síochána. We simply respond to requests from it.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I accept what the Minister said but there needs to be more urgency and focus to deal with the situation than the Minister has indicated. This is an unwelcome developing trend. I accept what the Minister said that those are not hoax call-outs in the sense that it is the Garda who make the calls. There appears to be a deliberate pattern. On the other hand, however, the hoax devices are being planted for a particular reason. Does the Minister have information as to whether anyone has been apprehended or sentenced by the courts that gives any indication of where all this activity is emanating from?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Deputy O'Shea that there seems to be a pattern emerging. I have spoken about the matter on a number of occasions with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and I will discuss it with him again on foot of this discussion. I do not have the information about arrests, apprehensions and prosecutions but I will ascertain it and let Deputy O'Shea know.