Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make one last point. The Chair mentioned the Defence Forces. As a former member of the Defence Forces and one that was nominated to the Seanad by the Defence Forces, among others, I take grave exception to the Defence Forces being requested to go in and dig these organisations out of a hole. I fully understand the needs of the public and the needs of the airport to maintain itself. I know it was not the witnesses who invited the Defence Forces in. They went to the Minister, who asked his colleague, the Minister for Defence, to provide the Defence Forces. I just think it is an insult to the Defence Forces.

That is not what they are in this country for. That is not their role and we should never let that happen again. I have said it now and gotten it off my chest.