Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any representative of the Government met with President George W. Bush during his time here, either formally or informally; if he will report on discussions he had with President Bush during his visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9364/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There was no meeting between a representative of the Government and President Bush on this occasion.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost to the State of the visit of President George W. Bush on 28 February-1 March 2006, broken down by category of expenditure made or income forfeited; the number of gardaí assigned to duties related to this visit; the number of members of the Defence Forces assigned to duties related to this visit; the additional security resources which were allocated to Shannon Airport to facilitate the stopover; the cost of these resources; the duration of the security operation; if permission was needed, requested or granted for the President to disembark from his aeroplane to meet American troops at Shannon Airport; if fees or tariffs were charged to the US Government in relation to this visit; if permission was granted for weapons to be carried on President Bush's aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9365/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Permission for President Bush's aircraft to land was granted by my Department in accordance with the normal procedures. However, operational issues with respect to landing an aircraft in the State and the security of visiting Heads of State are not matters for my Department. Queries on these matters are more appropriately addressed to the civil aviation authorities and the Garda Síochána.

President Bush's meeting with US military personnel at the airport appears to have been a spontaneous act. Such personnel were in transit as part of a multinational force authorised by the United Nations Security Council. Permission for this meeting was not required.