Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 398: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the overall cost as of 12 July 2011 for the Garda involvement in the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama; if he will provide a breakdown of the costs between the two visits; the number of gardaí involved in each of the visits; if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure headings on the overall cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21020/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama required unprecedented security arrangements to be put in place by the Garda Síochána to ensure the safety of our visitors and the maintenance of public order. All Garda leave and rest days were cancelled for this period and members on duty were required to work longer than normal shifts. Movements of several thousand Garda members over a number of days had to be arranged, involving the hiring of transport and the provision of accommodation. A range of security-related equipment also had to be purchased or hired.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the Garda costs of the State visits by expenditure category to date: