asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to the taxpayer of the Army security before and after the court hearings involving Mr. Peter Robinson MP at (a) Dundalk, County Louth and (b) Ballybay, County Monaghan.

Pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, the Defence Forces gave assistance to the Garda Síochána on the occasion in question. The estimated additional costs (excluding pay) in respect of the provision of such assistance were as follows: Dundalk, £5,500; Ballybay, £9,000.