Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces continues to provide security on campus at any prisons across Ireland. [36399/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.

The Commission on the Defence Forces, which was published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation “That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces’ ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation”. As part of the implementation of that recommendation, the supports that had historically been provided at Portlaoise Prison ceased, with effect from 30 September 2024.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the planned withdrawal of tasking the Defence Forces from the provision of static security at a premises (details supplied). [36400/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces, published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation “That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces’ ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation”. My Department with the Defence Forces continue to implement the recommendations contained in the Report, some of which relate to legacy security duties at various locations. Given the operational sensitivity on such matters, the Deputy will appreciate it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this juncture.