Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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We sincerely hope there will not be a no-deal Brexit and that Britain will leave the European Union with an agreement. We hope that we will not need additional security measures in the Border region. I previously outlined the major mistake of closing Dún Uí Néill barracks in County Cavan. That barracks was in a central Border area and was the most modern barracks in Europe. I sincerely hope the Permanent Defence Force does not have to deploy additional personnel to the Border region. We sincerely hope it does not come to that but, in the event it does, I send a strong message that such personnel cannot go to inferior accommodation. If additional personnel from the Permanent Defence Force are assigned to the Border region, they should go to proper accommodation. It was a different situation when the Troubles erupted in 1969 and 1970. It was difficult at that time because of inadequate accommodation and all of that. The former Dún Uí Néill barracks is still a very sound and modern structure and I sincerely hope that, if additional personnel are assigned, facilities such as Dún Uí Néill barracks would be used. I sincerely hope it does not come to that but it is an issue worth bearing in the back of our minds.