In a way the Minister has answered my question. I just want confirmation from him that consultation and liaison occur on a regular basis between the Garda and the organising committees of the various functions here which attract large gatherings of people. Would the Minister confirm that that liaison exists and are there contingency plans in relation to the more obvious areas like large GAA gatherings and race meetings, with regard to action which could be taken within a short period of time to deal with the kind of problems which are likely to arise at such events?

(Limerick East): I am putting it in the context of international agreement and international recommendations. Ireland has now been co-opted to the expert group who are dealing with spectator violence. The next meeting is in Strasbourg on 25 and 26 June. The fifth conference of the meeting of European Sports Ministers will be held in Dublin in the autumn of 1986. It is fairly clear already that spectator violence at matches will be on the agenda and will play a prominent part at the meeting. Copy of the resolutions to which I referred were sent to the sports section of the FAI, to the Irish Hockey Union, the IRFU, the Irish Basketball Association, to Bord Lúthchleas na hÉireann, Comhairle Liathróid Láimhe na hÉireann and to the GAA on 27 May 1985. As recently as last week those resolutions were sent to the sporting bodies to make them aware of them. We accept the recommendations. We are party to the agreement. Obviously the Garda have a major part to play in crowd control but they do it in consultation with the sporting organisations. This is not something that is being neglected. It is not something I am talking about now as a result of last night's tragedy. The matter was already in hand.

Will the Minister agree with me that visiting teams are welcome in this country——

Not that particular one.

——and that what happened last night in Brussels is as likely to happen at an all-Ireland final between Dublin and Kerry.

GAA supporters are not like that. What the Deputy said is ridiculous.

Will the Minister assure the House that as a result of what happened last night the Garda Commissioner will review the security situation surrounding games, not just relating to visiting teams but in relation to large attendances at football matches between teams in the country?

(Limerick East): First, I do not think it is as likely to happen at an all-Ireland final. The record of the GAA has been very good in this respect.

It is as likely to happen there.

(Limerick East): No, the GAA supporters are very well behaved. There is a particular problem with soccer, especially when British teams are involved. That is generally accepted. It is not as likely to happen at an all-Ireland final.

Obviously the Minister was never on Hill 16.

(Limerick East): Secondly, the vast majority of our young people are very well behaved, either when participating in sport or as spectators. We have had problems with visitors, but our young people have been very well behaved.

With reference to the awareness of the Garda Síochána in this connection, I have referred to the recommendations of the Council of Europe. The Government were represented on the Committee for the Development of Sport, known as the CDDS, to which the expert group reported, by a senior official from the sports section of the Department of Education. We were also represented by Deputy Commissioner O'Doherty, acting in his capacity as Chairman of Cospóir. The group to which the expert group reported has got on it one of the most senior gardaí in the country. They are well aware of the recommendations and would be instrumental in sending them out to the sporting organisations last week.

Will the Minister say——

This question could take up the rest of Question Time. I can understand the anxiety of people to deal with it.

This has nothing to do with what happened last night but is simply a question about the Garda and security.

I will allow Deputy De Rossa and Deputy Hyland to ask a question and I will call on Deputy Gregory for the last question on this matter.

My question relates directly to Deputy Gregory's query. In what way do the Garda decide the degree of security required at an event, whether it be a football match, a concert or any event that will attract a large number? Does it depend on the amount of money a club, an organiser or a promoter is prepared to pay for security? What rights do the Garda Síochána have inside a stadium or a hall where an event is taking place? Do the organisers decide how many gardaí are needed and the extent of security inside a stadium?

(Limerick East): The decision is normally made on local knowledge and information as to what is likely to happen. One can predict if there might be aggression between supporters in certain matches, but in other matches one can say quite categorically there will not be any trouble. I am sure when Limerick play Cork in a fortnight's time in Pairc Uí Caoimh there will not be much trouble down there. Normally they consult with the organisers and they come up with a level of security that is appropriate. It does not depend on the availability of money. A garda is a garda whether he is on or off duty. He has the same powers inside a football stadium as he has on the street and he will have the same powers off-duty.