Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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24. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces on duty related to the Papal visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36191/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The 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. The Gardaí requested support from the Defence Forces for the Papal Visit and the number of members of the Defence Forces deployed in support of it was 3,104.

The assistance provided by the Defence Forces for the duration of the Papal visit is greatly appreciated and acknowledged by myself and my colleagues in Government.