Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the steps being taken by the Defence Forces to deal with the new threats posed by dissident republicans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54645/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. A wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies. The Defence Forces hold regular coordination and liaison meetings with An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues including identifying and responding effectively to any new or developing threats to internal and external State security. While exact details in relation to the threat posed by dissident republicans cannot be made public for operational reasons, the Defence Forces maintain a strong and focussed operational awareness and response capability to all emerging threats within the State.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the moneys received by the Defence Forces during each of the past ten years for providing escorts to cash in transit. [54706/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The monies received by the Department of Defence in respect of the provision by the Defence Forces of assistance to An Garda Siochána in protecting movements of cash for the past ten years are as follows:

Previous to 2005, the contribution from the banks only part-covered the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. An agreement that was signed with the Irish Banking Federation and its member Banks in 2005 provides that the banks will pay the total actual costs incurred in the provision by the Defence Forces of cash escorts for the banks. This agreement was subsequently renewed in 2011.