Gardaí received €22.2 million in overtime payments during US President Joe Biden’s landmark visit to Ireland, reports The Mirror.
In addition to that, officers were granted €1.87 million in “unsocial allowances” and another €1.01 million to cover travel expenses, hotel stays, and accommodation in local B&Bs, reports The Mirror.
These figures were made public by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan in response to a parliamentary query raised by Labour TD for Tipperary, Alan Kelly.
Mr O’Callaghan confirmed that the overall Garda-related cost of the official three-day State visit in April 2023 came to €31.86 million, reports The Mirror.
However, he also disclosed that an additional €2.4 million went toward operational services, general supplies, and miscellaneous equipment, including food.
A further €1.31 million was allocated for communication tools and other related equipment, reports The Mirror.
Among the smaller expenses, Garda spending included €30,000 on clothing and accessories, €26,000 on digital infrastructure and IT, and €1,000 each for transport and “premises expenses”.
President Biden travelled to Co Louth, the ancestral home of his mother’s side of the family—the Finnegans—and to Dublin to meet with President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, reports The Mirror.
He was accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden as well as their dedicated security personnel and personal protection detail.
Mr O’Callaghan added: “Such visits are to be welcomed and offer important opportunities to us as a small outward looking country, for positive engagement with partners. There is an obligation on the State to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of every visiting dignitary, in line with risk assessment,” reports The Mirror.
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