Vol. 568 No. 1
227 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if his Department is not considering and will not consider plans to deploy the Defence Forces to move Travellers, as was recently publicly called for by the Mayor of Dungarvan, County Waterford. [15880/03]
The roles of the Defence Forces, as assigned by Government, are set out in the White Paper on Defence which was published in February 2000. To aid the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, which has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, is among the assigned roles. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Garda as required in duties which include the protection and guarding of vital installations.
