Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of new riot gear bought in 2009 for use by the Defence Forces; the reason for buying the new gear in 2009; if the buying of new riot gear is related to fears of civil disturbances here in the immediate future; if the Defence Forces have received additional training over and above that normally provided with regard to peace support missions abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42455/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the gardaí as required in a range of duties, which include the provision of troops for cash escorts, prison escorts and the provision of military guards at a number of vital installations.

As part of the aid to the civil power role, the Defence Forces continues to maintain an anti-riot capability in order to meet a contingent and operational capability at home and overseas respectively. The Defence Forces Annual Training Plan provides for training in a broad spectrum of such aid to the civil power related activities. This training plan also includes riot control training and the maintenance of stand-to parties for the purpose of rendering assistance to the Garda Síochána at demonstrations and marches, if such assistance is sought by the gardaí.

It is essential, therefore, that all military personnel involved in such training be suitably equipped from the health and safety perspective. In that regard, the provision of suitable personal protective equipment for the Defence Forces is a matter which is kept under review in my Department and the procurement of a range of equipment for use by the Defence Forces for training on aid to the civil power duties and for overseas service was undertaken this year.

The equipment included the acquisition of personal protective equipment for use by the Defence Forces in public order and crowd and riot control operations at home and overseas. This equipment affords protection for personnel from the threats of airborne thrown missiles, hand held weapons and from violent physical contact. In addition, protective shields and batons were also acquired for the Defence Forces to replace existing stocks, which had not been replenished for a number of years. The total expenditure on the equipment this year is €344,000 inclusive of VAT.

I can confirm that the purchase of this equipment was planned as a replacement programme due to fair wear and tear of equipment during normal training and is not related, as the Deputy asks, to any fears of civil disturbance in this country in the immediate future. The equipment is required to enable the Defence Forces to train and carry out its roles at home and overseas to the highest possible international standards and best practice. The purchase of this equipment is a small element of an overall equipment modernisation programme which has seen tremendous strides made in the equipment now available to Defence Forces personnel at all levels to cover the varied roles they are engaged in on a daily basis.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's clarification of the question about the issue of being involved in aid to civil power in certain circumstances.

Regarding aid to civil power, will the Minister confirm if the group on emergency planning, for example, which will be critical next Tuesday, has met this year and, if so, the number of times it met? Also, what role does the Minister envisage the Army having next Tuesday in the event of being needed for fire services, even in this House, by local authorities, in prisons and so forth? Are contingency plans in place that will avail of the Defence Forces in certain circumstances next Tuesday?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is expanding the nature of the question, which is about the purchase of riot gear.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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It is to do with aid to civil power.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Army has two roles domestically - aid to the civil power, which we have been discussing, and aid to the civil authority, which means the Army can be called in in the event of an emergency. The emergency planning committee meets approximately once every month or six weeks; a meeting is due to take place in the next week or so. The last meeting was three or four weeks ago. There are long-standing arrangements in place and liaison between the Army and the various emergency services. The Army will be available if required, as it usually is in the event of an emergency, in its role as being able to be called on as an aid to the civil authority as opposed to as an aid to the civil power. Aid to the civil power is a matter of whether the gardaí want the Army's assistance.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Has the Minister addressed this problem specifically? There could be chaos in this country next Tuesday. As Minister for Defence, has the Minister examined the role, in terms of emergency planning and the Government interdepartmental working group, that the Army may have to play? Has he not even considered that or does he believe the Army will have a role next Tuesday?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not immediately see a role for the Army next Tuesday but we have looked at that. Arrangements are in place whereby the Army can be called upon if needed. There are well-known lines of authority in that regard and long-standing arrangements which can be put in place.