Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which the Army Ordnance Corps has been called out to deal with suspicious devices during 2009 and to date in 2010; the number of cases which were actual explosive devices; the number of occasions on which the devices were hoaxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9186/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team respond when a request is made by an Garda Síochána, to the relevant Brigade, for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance.

The number of call outs made by EOD teams from 1 January 2009 to 14 February 2010 is as follows:-