The Premier of the People's Republic of China visited Ireland from 2-5 September 2001 and resided at Farmleigh Estate from 2-4 September 2001. I am informed by the Garda authorities – who are responsible for the detailed allocation and resources to individual areas – that the policing operation in respect of the DMA West division, where Farmleigh Estate is situated, came into place at 18.00 hours on 31 August 2001 and concluded at 12.00 hours on 4 September 2001. The total cost of the operation at Farmleigh Estate is not yet available but I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as it is.
The Garda Commissioner is not in favour, for operational reasons, of releasing details of the number of Garda personnel and units that are involved in security operations of this nature and I am in agreement with this. I am, however, informed that Garda personnel from the DMA West division who were involved in the operation were sourced from specially employed units in the division, thus allowing regular units perform at usual strength. To this end, I am also advised by the Garda authorities that the visit did not impact on the regular policing units and that station strengths were not depleted for the duration of the visit.
