Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of security arrangements for the visit of US President Mr. George W. Bush to Shannon Airport on 1 March 2006. [9328/06]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 568: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Army personnel deployed as part of the security arrangements for the visit of US President Mr. George W. Bush to Shannon Airport on 1 March 2006. [9329/06]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 569: To ask the Minister for Defence if he had prior knowledge of the visit of US President Mr. George W. Bush to Shannon Airport on 1 March 2006. [9330/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 567 to 569 inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me for reasons of security to comment on the exact nature of the deployment to Shannon Airport on 1 March 2006. The estimated additional cost to the Defence Forces was approximately €32,000 in respect of security duty allowance and of fuel. I was aware of the visit of the US President prior to the event.