Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleague for bringing this Private Members' business before the House this evening.

I am deeply saddened that the Government's actions have warranted this motion. I take no pleasure in speaking on this tonight, but I do so in the best interests of the Army personnel working in Columb barracks, their families and the business community of Mullingar and in the interests of the public purse.

I acknowledge those who have travelled from Mullingar tonight: family and friends of Army personnel, IUNVA - Post 20, ex-Army personnel, members of the business community and local councillors - Collentine, Glynn, Penrose and Dollard.

Both Government and Opposition are at one when we speak of the pride we have in the men and women who serve in the Defence Forces. These men and women have instilled pride in their families, communities, counties and country.

I ask the Government Members tonight, if no decision has been made, why have so many Deputies come out giving excuses about why closures are needed. Last night, and in recent days, Ministers accused us of typical opportunistic opposition, but what else would they say? Do the same Ministers accuse themselves or their party colleagues of having opportunistic agendas? I saw no politician from any party speaking in favour of the closure or downgrading of Columb Barracks at the protest meeting last week, that is, those of us who turned up to it. Anyone who knows me and who has worked with me as a councillor for seven years on Westmeath County Council will know that I have always worked constructively with all members across all parties in the interests of the county and would be one of the less partisan politicians in the county. Since Fianna Fáil was soundly defeated in the last general election, we have not engaged in opportunistic opposition, as some would lead one to believe. In fact, we have supported the Government on various legislative issues since then - 11 out of 15. Is that the record of an opportunistic Opposition?

It was senior Army personnel, who are directly responsible to the Minister for Defence, who visited the barracks in question announcing impending closures. It was they who generated the anxiety and fear all concerned.

Since then, and previously, I along with my colleagues have tried to get answers from the Minister, but he has treated us with contempt and, in doing so, has so treated the people we represent. He refuses to outline his proposals despite the fact that the Department has completed the value for money review. He also declined my invitation to visit this barracks - another insult to the personnel. The past three Ministers visited Columb Barracks and confirmed its future on each occasion.

In our motion, we acknowledged that the previous Government engaged in consolidation of Army barracks but we feel that the process is complete if we are to maintain the Defence Forces at the current level of 9,500.

Columb Barracks can trace its history back almost 200 years. It is the home of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment and also acts as a headquarters of the Reserve Defence Force and the 54th Regiment. Columb Barracks is the last remaining artillery barracks in Ireland and, given its location in the geographical centre of the country, is of strategic importance. It acts as a staging post for all our overseas and UN-based operations. Currently, there are more than 200 serving personnel based in the barracks along with 20 highly-skilled civilian staff.

I will point out a few reasons Columb Barracks should not close. On costs, there is no economic gain. This decision, according to a more senior politician than I, is crass stupidity and economic lunacy. There would be immediate costs involved in transferring and redeploying the 200 troops current based there. There is no spare capacity in other locations in the command area and closing Columb Barracks would involve building new facilities in another location.

The closure of Columb Barracks would result in a net loss of approximately €8 million to the local economy at a time when local businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to survive and are getting no support from the Government. The Government opposes reforming rates and only last week the controlling parties on Westmeath County Council voted against proposals by the chamber of commerce on modifying parking charges to help the traders.

There has been a close historical connection between the town and the Defence Forces. The troops in Columb Barracks provide important local supports to the community.

Recruitment to the PDF and RDF is highest in areas where there is an Army barracks. Closing Columb Barracks would diminish local recruitment. Maybe this is part of the Government's plan.

The convenient location of Defence Forces is critical in time of emergency. We saw at first hand over the past two winters just how critical it was to have them on board.

Mr. Declan Power, an independent security consultant, was quoted last week in the local Westmeath Topic, which reported:

"There seems to be no strategy", he said. "I think the Government are more concerned about the optics of being seen to close things. But I ask, where is the common sense to satisfy such optics?"

He pointed out that Columb Barracks has undergone a costly revamp in recent years.

Last night the one of the reasons the Ministers used for closing the barracks was that we did so in the past, and he commended the previous Government on doing so. While I appreciate the new Government has adopted many of the previous Government's economic policies, there is no need to adopt consolidation of the Defence Forces.

My constituency colleague described the decision to close Connolly Barracks as a "shameful and ill-thought out decision". Does he now think the same of Columb Barracks? I sincerely hope he does because three years after the closure of the Connolly Barracks, it still remains unsold, derelict in the heart of Longford town. Only last week the Minister for Defence refused to sign over the barracks to the local authority. He expects the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to pay the Department of Defence, bearing in mind that all moneys come from the Department of Finance.

Members of the Government like to blame the EU-IMF deal for further closures while at the same time claim any moneys raised will be re-invested in the Defence Forces. Other Members claim that there is no economic gain by closing the Army barracks. Why then would the EU-IMF be interested? The EU-IMF has set a target of 8.6% of GDP by 2012 which, incidentally, is something on which we agree. However, how that is achieved is by making choices. The Government did this when it chose to introduce the pension levy. It chose to spare the cuts when it appointed its own advisers without paying any heed to the cap. The cost of special advisers to senior Ministers far exceeds the €300,000 that will allegedly be saved at Columb Barracks.

I am aware of the difficult job facing the Government. That is why we have pledged to be constructive in opposition. Tonight is not about party politics; it is about the future of these barracks and the integral role they play in local communities and economies. A dark cloud is hanging over the future of these barracks and the Minister for Defence is the only person who can lift it. I ask him to listen to his Cabinet colleague who continues to support the retention of the barracks. No further consolidation should be announced. I ask the Government to be upfront and honest with the people, as it pledged it would be in February this year, and to remove the uncertainty.

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