Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which the Army ordinance 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. [23369/10]

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

Requests made by the Garda Síochána for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance are responded to by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team in the relevant Brigade.

The details requested are set out in the following tabular statement.

Examples of routine call outs include occasions on which the EOD teams have dealt with the disposal of items such as, unexploded ordnance on army firing ranges, Time Expired Pyrotechnics (flares) and objects washed ashore.