Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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16. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of incidents for which the services of the army bomb disposal unit were required in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will provide examples of incidents that the unit have dealt with in the first half of this year. [28709/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to the role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist An Garda Síochána when requested. The explosive ordnance disposal, EOD, teams respond when a request is made by An Garda Síochána for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance. The number of times that the EOD teams have been deployed in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 is as follows. In 2011, there were 237 call-outs, with the number of viable improvised explosive devices, IEDs, dealt with at 70; in 2011 there were 209 call-outs, with the number of viable improvised explosive devices dealt with at 96; and in 2013 to date, there were 119 call-outs, with the number of viable improvised explosive devices dealt with at 46.

Apart from IEDs, other types of call-outs would include hoaxes, false alarms, post-blast analysis, dealing with unstable chemicals and conventional munitions destruction of old historical artillery shells. Incidents in 2013 to date have been in the main IEDs and dealing with finds of old munitions, as well as unstable chemicals in laboratories. All EOD call-outs are treated as viable devices until post-operation analysis.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive report. I believe he would join with me in commending the explosive ordnance disposal teams of the Defence Forces on their outstanding courage and bravery, as well as their technical ability as outlined by the Minister. I presume that in recent days those teams have been standing by.

The Minister has mentioned what the teams deal with and in my constituency in the past couple of months, the EODs were called to a number of suspect devices by An Garda Síochána. Is the Minister happy that the resources available to EODs are sufficient? In Fort Lee in Virginia in the US, there is a 40 week course for engineers in the area. Is the Minister satisfied with the level of technical education available to our very brave soldiers in the area? Is the Minister aware of the number of personnel involved in teams?

The terrible Boston tragedy some months ago reminded us how terrible these kinds of dastardly events can be, as well as the kind of harm that can be done to the public. Is the Minister concerned by reports indicating a number of Internet sites - he has already mentioned cybersecurity - where bomb-making materials and expertise is evident? Does the Minister have any plans, in conjunction with other EU defence Ministers, to address the problem?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To take the Deputy's last question first, there are a number of sites on the web providing substantial detail on how to make bombs. It is a continuing and difficult issue and I can see it from both sides in my role as Minister for Justice and Equality and dealing with counter-terrorism. One cannot police every website in the world and information is currently readily available.

It is an issue of which the security forces, both the police and Defence Forces, are aware. Unfortunately the reality is that we live in a world where someone who wants to manufacture a form of improvised explosive device can learn very easily how to do that.

Having said that, it is right that I praise the brave members of the Defence Forces who are called out regularly to neutralise improvised explosive devices. They do it with extraordinary skill and bravery. They have and will continue to have any equipment they require in this area and they have excellent training. Indeed, members of our Defence Forces are recognised globally as having substantial expertise in this area and they have used that expertise to train others in different parts of the world in how to neutralise improvised explosive devices.

In response to the specific question from the Deputy, there are currently five EODTs located throughout the country. Teams are based in Costume Barracks in Athlone, Collins Barracks in Cork, Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Gormanstown in County Meath and at the Defence Forces Training in the Curragh, in support of Dublin Airport. The Defence Forces maintain the capacity to stand up additional teams if required. A team typically consists of three personnel, made up of one officer, one NCO and one driver. A team is also always accompanied by a security team, which travels with the EODT to provide protection. This is an area in which, unfortunately, we were forced by events that occurred on this island over many years to develop a substantial level of skill and expertise. It is one of the great skills that vests within our Defence Forces.