Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1047: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide details on the potentially viable improvised explosive device which was discovered and made safe in the Ranelagh area, Dublin, recently; if he will provide details of the potential explosive capability of the device, the component parts, the intended target, the suspected motives and the suspected persons involved; if there is a reasonable threat of further such devices being used in the area; the total number of potentially viable IEDs discovered in the State in 2011; and the relevant details of same. [18154/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Following a request from An Garda Síochána, a Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was deployed to a residential property in the Ranelagh area of Dublin on Monday, 23rd January, 2012. The EOD team subsequently made safe a suspected viable Improvised Explosive Device (IED). From a security and operational perspective, it would not be appropriate to reveal technical information on the specific components and capability of the device in question.

Intelligence gathering in relation to this event is a matter for An Garda Síochána, as is monitoring of the ongoing threat level.

With regard to the number of potentially viable IEDs discovered in the State in 2011, of the 237 EOD team callouts, 46 involved viable IEDs and of these 15 had functioned before the EOD team had an opportunity to intervene.