Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Defence the fund from which the recent State visits were paid; if the Defence Forces were allocated additional funds; if so, the amount of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14108/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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This relates again to security arrangements of the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama. They were primarily a matter for the Garda. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Síochána.

With regard to these successful visits, the roles played by the Defence Forces included search, surveillance, security operations, etc., and guarding vital installations. This question should have been taken with the earlier question because the same information is being provided.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The same series of parliamentary questions have been tabled to elicit information regarding the costs incurred by local authorities, the Garda and the Defence Forces for these visits. Both visits went off well and they were worthwhile. I, therefore, did not table the question from the point of view of opposing the visits. However, I do not see how they could be self-financing. It may well be that when budgets were put together, an instruction issued to capture what might have been the cost. Several Members have tabled the same questions and this is repetitive work for someone. It would be worthwhile, therefore, if a composite response issued to save us from asking these questions. That would be useful and account should be taken of these costs when future visits are timetabled in order that we can budget for them appropriately.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her question, although it is starting to feel like ground-hog day. Her colleague, Deputy Clare Daly, asked the same question earlier. Such visits involve different Departments and agencies. In the context of security issues, the Garda was the lead agency engaged to provide the security necessary and it is estimated the additional cost to the force will not be less than €20 million.

In the context of the Defence Forces' engagement in providing both security and protection at the request of the Garda and engaging in ceremonial duties, the cost of Queen Elizabeth's visit is estimated to be €1.18 million while they incurred costs of approximately €600,000 for President Obama's visit. A backward look at the costs incurred is under way but that will take time and until that is complete, we will not have the final figures. Members are enthusiastically tabling parliamentary questions to elicit information as rapidly as possible but at this stage, most of the figures are relatively clear. I know there is some finality to be brought to the figures for the Garda Síochána. We will know the final figures by the end of this week, which is the end of June. The same applies to the Defence Forces.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces should take a bow because the figure of €1.2 million for the visit of the Queen of England was provided for before she even left. In comparison to other Departments and other agencies, they are a model of efficiency.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In fairness to both, the Garda involvement was a great deal more intensive and required a great deal more personnel, overtime and allowances for the many members of the force who were engaged to be collated. That is more complex when compared with the Defence Forces, where the financial backdrop is simpler and clearer. Both forces did us proud during the course of both visits. We should take great pride in their performance. We should take great pride in the fact that both visits went so well. Given the possibility of visits by other dignitaries in the future, or even by the Queen and President Obama again, it is important to state that if there were not a small group of malcontents intent on disrupting the visits and on spoiling the enjoyment of many people in Dublin who would like to have had greater engagement with our visitors, a great deal of this money would have been saved and could have been used for other purposes. In circumstances of financial stringency, I think that is worth repeating. If there is a similar visit on future occasions, I hope there will not be the level of threat from these groups, which existed during the course of these visits, that requires this level of intense security.