Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 198: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 414 of 27 September 2006, if he will confirm that on a previous occasion he gave a commitment to charge some of the cost of additional policing duties required outside stadia on major event or match days to the event organiser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33460/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware over the years numerous organisations have requested and have been given the assistance of Gardaí on a non-public duty basis. Traditionally Gardaí have been made available for the performance of such duties and the State has charged for their services.

At present organisers of events pay for the cost of non-public duties performed by Gardaí on duty inside the event location (e.g. at sporting events, major G.A.A. or soccer matches, rock concerts etc.). The cost of policing duties performed by Gardaí outside of the event location, such as traffic control, beat patrols and other policing duties which would be additional to those normally performed at the location are not paid for by the organisers of the event and fall to be paid from public funds.

Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act provides a statutory basis for the Garda Commissioner to charge for police services for commercial events such as sports fixtures, concerts etc. Regulations may be made under this Act governing the costs which are to be taken into account by the Commissioner and careful consideration will be give in this process to all of the arguments that have been made in relation to charging for police services.

The primary consideration of the Garda authorities at all times is for the safety of the public. The number of Gardaí and other resources required to discharge the public policing function is determined by operational considerations.