Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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342. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extra costs incurred by the Gardaí at Shannon airport on 12 October 2014 for the one hour peaceful peace vigil at Shannon, including the provision of the Garda air support unit helicopter which had to be deployed from Casement Aerodrome, County Dublin; and the reason this use of the Garda helicopter was considered necessary, in view of the fact that these monthly peace vigils have been taking place for over six years without any security related incidents, while virtually no extra security is provided at Shannon airport for the other 461 hours in each month, in spite of the increasing possibility of a retaliatory extremist attack on Shannon airport due to US military use of Shannon airport while the US is carrying out air attacks against Islamists forces in Iraq and Syria. [40300/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána records information on overall policing costs. Specific financial information relating to the policing of the one hour vigil at Shannon Airport on the 12th October 2014 is not available.

However, I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the cost to An Garda Síochána of security for Shannon airport was €862,574 in 2012 and €758,152 in 2013. This comprises salaries and other pay and non-pay related expenditure.

The use of the Garda Helicopter is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána.