Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to circumstances surrounding the visit of the Vice Premier of China to Dublin in November 2004 (details supplied); if it is not the role of Garda to ensure that visiting politicians do not see protests against them; if the Garda will not become involved in such blatant political favouritism again. [2248/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that, for security reasons, it is not Garda policy to comment upon the security arrangements for individual heads of state or visiting dignitaries. I am also informed that the level of security afforded to such VIPs is an operational decision involving many factors, having due regard to the safety and security of the VIP and the entitlement of individuals to lawful protest. I do not accept that the Garda Síochána involves itself in partisanship in such matters.