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€5k per week on Shannon protection

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OVER €5,000 a week was being spent by the defence forces on the provision of security at Shannon last year, according to information provided by Minister Alan Shatter in the Dáil.
According to the information provided by Mr Shatter, €275,008 was spent last year and €4,060,455 in the years 2003-2012. The greatest expenditure in a single year was in 2003, when it reached €1,113,200, while it fell by over a quarter the following year, down to €760,500. In 2005 it was €225,900, in 2006 €403,375, in 2007 €275,054, in 2008 €286,273, in 2009 €258,040, in 2010 €203,366 and €259,739 in 2011.
Mr Shatter provided the information in response to a question from Clare TD Timmy Dooley and speaking in the Dáil, the minister said; “An Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain security escorts etc. The gardaí, who undertake threat assessments for Shannon Airport on an ongoing basis, requested the Defence Forces to provide assistance in securing the airport. Such assistance has been rendered by the Defence Forces since February 5, 2003. The following items are taken into consideration when calculating the costs involved in providing aid to the civil power at Shannon Airport, ie, Security Duty Allowance, rations and fuel.”
The army have had a presence at the airport going back to the spring of 2003, following an attack on a US plane by a group of peace protestors.
Five people were subsequently charged but in 2006 they were found not guilty. Following the decision, a spokesperson for the US embassy expressed disappointment with the outcome.
The five had argued that they had a lawful excuse for causing the damage and in a document, which was subsequently leaked, US officials in Ireland stated that they had received assurances from the Government. “GOI (Government of Ireland) contacts do not plan to comment publicly on this case but have expressed sympathy and willingness to address the issue. They have also reassured post as to Shannon Airport’s continued availability to US military transits. This verdict has given anti-Iraq war protestors renewed vigour but we seriously doubt that planned action to shut down US military operations at Shannon will amount to anything.”

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