asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí and the number of motor cars used in policing the march on Dublin by farmers who were members of the NFA; and the total cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policing of NFA March.
27.
The number of gardaí in country Divisions who were engaged in policing the march for varying periods was 428. The number of gardaí immobilised to date in Dublin by the incident has varied from day to day; it was 651 on 19th October and 274 on 25th October, the daily average to date being 278. The number of motor cars and motor cycles used was 85. Total cost is estimated at £9,000.
In the figures the Minister has given me, is he including the number of men and cars that have been utilised since the farmers came to Dublin—428?
Yes.
And the rest, then, has to do——
——with the Dublin mobilisation.
Was any prior indication given to the Minister that there was a need for the policing of this march?
Thanks be to God, we have a police force that has its eyes and ears open.
I am not talking about that. I am concerned about the impression that can be given by so many police following small bands of men —the impression that this is a police State.
I am quite satisfied that the whole behaviour and demeanour of the gardaí throughout this provoking business has been of the highest order.
I am glad to notice that the Minister for Justice is criticising his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries: he is the man who did the provoking.
I said nothing about the police behaviour. I can well understand that the police carry out instructions. I did not say anything about their behaviour.
How does the Minister reconcile the figure of 428 gardaí taken in from the country stations with the fact that, on Tuesday, in this House he said that very few were taken in?
I said the number of gardaí in country Divisions who were engaged in policing the march for varying periods in various parts of the country was 428. The Dublin Metropolitan Division gardaí saw to and are seeing to the position in Dublin.
Were there any incidents of any kind during the course of the march?
Nothing very serious, thanks be to God.
Nothing at all?
Nothing at all. They behaved themselves very well and did not have to be policed through the towns and villages.
We do not have to worry about these things.
Does the Minister feel that, as this was an orderly demonstration, an orderly deputation to ask that the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries receive them, all these expenses and all the activities of the garda were necessary?
That is an entirely separate question.
What is concerned in this matter is not the Government but this House and every political Party and every Deputy in it.
Nonsense——
Decent farmers were out on the road——
Order. Question No. 28.