Shatter confident of securing funds for policing state visits

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter says he is “confident” additional money will be released from exchequer funds to pay for security during the visits of US President Barack Obama and the Queen of England, which could cost up to €25 million.

The minister made the comment while attending the 33rd annual Garda Representative Association (GRA) conference in Westport, Co Mayo. He declined to comment on the cost of the operations next month, which GRA general secretary PJ Stone said could hit €25m and couldn’t be borne from the already constricted Garda budget.

Mr Shatter said he was “fully committed” to ensuring that the highest level of security was available to cover next month’s visits by the two heads of state.