Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
679 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policies and procedures he has put in place to deal with security during the Irish Presidency of the EU; if extra gardaí have been redeployed from rural areas to increase Garda strength in Dublin during the Presidency; the extra numbers that have been transferred; the counties that have been affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11148/04]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that a policing plan is put in place for each major event and/or meeting that takes places during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The extent of these plans depends upon the intelligence available on the overall security of the event, which, in turn, determines strategies to be implemented.
To date, no additional gardaí have been re-deployed from rural areas to increase Garda numbers in Dublin. However, for future significant events, such as the May Day celebrations, the Garda authorities inform me that it will be necessary to deploy personnel from rural areas to Dublin. Deployment of these personnel is a matter for and at the discretion of the Garda Commissioner.
