Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

This is purely a parochial game which simultaneously ignores the national requirement. The Government will not continue the Fianna Fáil habit of wasting taxpayers' money. Rather, its aim is to use that money to get the best possible return for the country as a whole.

Barracks consolidation is not an easy matter to deal with and there is no point in saying otherwise. However, it is an issue that must be faced up to and it will be extremely difficult for the Government to ensure the Defence Forces are allowed to manage their resources to the full, as well as to properly equip and train them to meet their roles. In this context, tying up substantial numbers of personnel in barracks-related duties and having small numbers of units and personnel spread out across the country in a large number of barracks will not allow this. Were Members on the other side of the House being honest, they also would admit this. As the Minister stated last night, were Fianna Fáil to have its way, the country would be left with an unsustainable number of poorly maintained barracks with little or no modern equipment.

See this speech in context