Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)

I thank the previous speaker for sharing her time with me so generously. I welcome the opportunity to speak tonight on this Private Members' motion. I support the amendment tabled by the Minister for Defence. I know from my own county the importance of the role played by the Defence Forces when they are called upon to help in times of need.

The barracks of Gormanston is in County Meath. It is currently used as a training facility for the Defence Forces and it houses the Air Accident Investigation Unit. Its history up to now has been very different. In the 1920s it took on three different roles. First, it was the demobilisation centre for the Black and Tans. Then it was used by the Free State Army as an internment camp for republican prisoners. Up to 2,000 people were held there until the late 1920s. It later became the transport headquarters for the Army. When the Troubles began in the late 1960s the camp was used to house refugees from Belfast who had fled south. At various times there were between 200 and 300 people there. Eventually it became the transition stop as refugees were moved on to Wicklow and Cork. At those times the camp played an important role, and it still does today. It is a role that is universally respected.

Last night the Fianna Fáil backbenchers spoke about the respect that society has for the Defence Forces. I know about that respect because I hear it from my constituents who see the great work the Army did, particularly in recent times when we had very inclement weather last winter. Residents of Ashbourne, Dunboyne and Stamullen were stuck during the cold weather but they managed to get to work and get their children to school because of the hard work of the Defence Forces at the time.

I am also aware of the respect other countries have for our Defence Forces. When I was the Labour Party spokesperson on defence in the Seanad I spoke about the respect the Defence Forces command when they serve abroad in peacekeeping missions in such places as Lebanon and Chad. This motion is not about respect. It is a return to the politics that Deputy Micheál Martin said he would leave behind him. It is not constructive opposition; it is playing local politics in the national Chamber. This is not the time for flippant Private Members' motions, it is a time for the Parliament to focus on restoring our economic sovereignty, which Fianna Fáil signed away. Perhaps what is more cynical is that the motion ignores completely the previous decisions made by the Fianna Fáil Government.

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