Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I support the motion tabled by Deputy Calleary. It recognises that soldiers and their families are an essential and integral part of their local economy. Moreover, their facilities are shared by many of their communities. Apart from their conventional role, the Defence Forces are critical in times of emergency to counteract adverse weather, disease and so on. It goes without saying that Members owe a debt of gratitude to the Defence Forces for the goodwill they have afforded the country while on peacekeeping duties abroad. The debate last night and again just now has been amazing. The Minister and his colleagues have deployed the usual tactic to which Members have become accustomed in the past six months. It is the usual mantra and battle-cry that it is not the Government's fault but that it was walked into it.

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