Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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914. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the claim that gardaí will not be able to respond to a London bridge type incident in the way that British police did and that An Garda Síochána is not trained to do so. [28203/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will understand that it is generally not the practice nor would it be prudent to disclose the detail of the security arrangements in place to respond the threat of a terrorist incident. To so do would plainly provide an advantage to those with ill intent. However, I want to assure the Deputy and the House that such a claim as that to which the Deputy refers is as unfortunate as it is ill-founded.

An Garda Síochána has the capacity to deploy considerable operational capabilities in response to critical incidents. There is, in particular, a highly-trained and well-equipped special intervention capability in the Emergency Response Unit that it is supported by a number of regional Armed Support Units and the range of other resources across the Garda organisation. Last year a dedicated Armed Response Unit was established for the Dublin region and it is currently being expanded significantly. The Deputy will wish to know that these operational capabilities are exercised on a routine and targeted basis and, in the context of actions to counter serious organised crime and paramilitary activity, they are the subject also of frequent deployment.

The considerable skills and resources of the Defence Forces are also available in support to the civil power when and where needed, and the Garda and Defence Forces work closely together on an ongoing basis in order to ensure preparedness for emergency responses.