I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not yet possible to provide a total estimated cost of the Garda policing arrangements relating to the US presidential visit in June 2004, as a small number of claims and suppliers' invoices remain outstanding.
However, I am also informed that, as at 29 October 2004, the cost of the Garda policing arrangements relating to the visit of the US President was €7.549 million. I am further informed that approximately 3,800 members of the Garda Síochána were deployed in relation to the visit, during the course of which seven arrests were made. Estimates of Garda man hours are not yet available.
The level of security provided was deemed necessary given the profile of the VIPs who attended the June summit and the worldwide terrorist threat, and the Garda authorities consider that the consequent disruption and inconvenience was minimal.
Moreover, it is worth pointing out that the visit by President Bush was important both nationally and in the context of Ireland's very successful Presidency of the European Union. Accordingly, any costs involved should be considered to be part of the normal expenditure required for Ireland to maintain its national and international obligations vis-à-vis both the United States and the European Union.
