Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 May 2012
242 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence if their are ongoing communications between the armed forces and the Garda Síochána in relation to riot control procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22387/12]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Whilst the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána hold regular meetings concerning ATCP operations generally, there have been no specific discussions recently in relation to riot control procedures.
