asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the Army can be used from time to time to complement the Garda in providing security on public offices and buildings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Security Provision.
12.
(Limerick West): The security of public offices and buildings is primarily a matter for the authorities occupying such premises in consultation, as necessary, with the Garda Síochána.
Pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power the Defence Forces provide military guards at certain locations at the request of the Garda Síochána.
Where this service is provided for private concerns such as banks, are the costs paid by those getting the service? Is this service self-financing, paying the cost arising to the Revenue?
(Limerick West): That is a matter for the Garda authorities. All we are doing is assisting the Garda authorities; in other words, aiding the civil power.
Does the Minister know if these concerns pay for that service?
(Limerick West): I do not know.
Will the Minister get the information and send it to me?
(Limerick West): This is a matter for the Department of Justice rather than my Department.
Under what legislative authority are the Garda Síochána empowered to call up members of the armed forces to assist, for example, in the conveyance of money by banks or other private institutions through the streets?
(Limerick West): I do not have that specific information but I understand it is normal practice for the Army to come to the assistance of the Garda Síochána.
Surely it is not satisfactory that Army personnel, for whom the Minister is immediately responsible, are daily about our streets? Is the Minister telling us that they are there simply because it is a practice that has grown?
As a lawyer the Deputy should know this comes under the Defence Acts.
I am asking the Minister for Defence to answer my question. I challenge my colleague on the Fine Gael benches to suggest that it is not within the Defence Acts.
(Limerick West): If the Deputy puts down a specific question I will answer it.
Would the Minister agree that it is a good thing the Garda can call on the Army?
(Limerick West): Of course it is.
I thoroughly agree with the Minister that it is normal practice, and a good practice.
Would the Minister further agree that one of the forces they have to contend with is the Official IRA?
(Limerick West): Yes.
As regards the Army coming to the aid of the civil power, surely if the Army are providing a service for the banks there must be some sort of financial spin-off.
That is what I was trying to ascertain.
(Limerick West): I answered that question already. It is not a matter for my Department but for the Department of Justice.
Arising out of this helpful discussion, will the Minister communicate this information to Deputies, including myself, when his investigations are complete?
(Limerick West): I will do that.
May I finally——
I have been very generous with Deputies and I want to call the next question.
Is it not reasonable that the utilisation of Army personnel and the costs arising therefrom are matters for the Minister for Defence? Can he tell us if a billing exercise takes place for using the Army in the context suggested by Deputy Andrews?
(Limerick West): As I said, Army participation is at the request of the Garda Síochána in their role as the civil power.
Deputies can hardly complain, I must call the next question.