Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
846. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 15 February 2017, the reason the deployments were so high in April and October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9651/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support of the Defence Forces is required, An Garda Síochána issues a form C70 to the Defence Forces to request their assistance. Since 5 February 2003, the Gardaí have requested support from the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport on occasion. An increase in the number of Defence Forces deployments may occur for two reasons. Firstly, an increase in the number of requests from An Garda Síochána and secondly, the length of time an aircraft is on the ground. As a deployment is a 12 hour shift, a single aircraft on the ground for an extended period, perhaps overnight, would involve more than one deployment of troops per request.
During the month of April 2016 the Defence Forces received 26 requests from An Garda Síochána and this involved 47 deployments. Similarly, the Defence Forces received 25 requests in October 2016 and this involved 46 deployments.
