Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 261: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to the Exchequer of the ongoing security operation at Shannon Airport by the Gardaí including an annual breakdown since 2002; and his views on whether the operation is necessary and is money well spent. [34093/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the cost, excluding basic salaries, of ongoing Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport is as follows:

Pursuant to the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the function of the Garda Síochána to provide policing services for the State with the objective of, inter alia, preserving peace and public order, protecting life and property and preventing crime.

In this context, the Garda authorities are required to allocate resources in an appropriate fashion to, inter alia, protect critical State infrastructures in accordance with assessed threat, so it is the latter which ultimately determines the associated costs. I am satisfied that Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport remain both necessary and appropriate.