James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to discuss this matter which is of the utmost importance to County Longford, namely, the urgent need for the Minister for Defence to reverse his decision to close Connolly Barracks, Longford, in light of the adverse effects on the economic viability of County Longford which will result from the loss of 180 full-time jobs and approximately 160 reservist positions and the disruption which will be caused by the proposed relocation of Army personnel and their families, who are an integral part of our local community in Longford.

There is one aspect of this closure that bothers me more than anything else. In the presence of Deputy Peter Kelly, the Minister, Deputy Willie O'Dea, gave assurances that the barracks would not be closed and Deputy Kelly vowed on a number of occasions that, as long as he was a Deputy, the barracks would remain open. This strikes me as a double act of the greatest possible hypocrisy — I make no apology for saying so.

Government hypocrisy was also evident when I was barred by the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, from attending a meeting to discuss the future of the barracks, to which he of course invited the two Fianna Fáil representatives for Longford-Westmeath. Such a lack of openness and transparency was rich but not unexpected coming from a Minister who last December attacked the tribunal's investigation of the then Taoiseach. It is obvious there is one law for the Minister, Deputy Willie O'Dea, and his pals in Fianna Fáil and another for everybody else. When he gets his own house in order and comes clean on that matter, he can lecture the people of Longford about their barracks, as he tried to do in the past couple of weeks.

The Minister's single-party meeting was held while Army wives protested in great numbers at the gates of Leinster House at his failure to consider their position. Why all the secrecy? What has the Minister to hide? Why was he scared to allow the elected Fine Gael Dáil and Seanad representatives to take part in these important discussions which failed to achieve a reversal of the shameful and ill-thought-out decision to close the barracks? Where were his words of bravado that assured the people of Longford the barracks would not be closed? What exactly are the financial savings made by closing this barracks?

It is unrealistic of the Government not to acknowledge the bigger picture. Furthermore, it is difficult to see how much savings can be achieved, particularly if a site of this size — up to 14 acres — will be put on the open market in the midst of a serious economic downturn. It is my strong belief that the economic savings made by the proposed closure will be minimal and non-cost-effective. This is without taking into account the human and social aspect of the proposal.

Perhaps a buyer has already been found for Connolly Barracks. If there is such a buyer, what plans have been made for the future of this historic premises? Government promises may be cheap to the Minister and easy to break, but when one considers the effects on a whole community, they are inexcusable. The closure of the barracks is the equivalent of the loss of two major industries to the county. The Minister is stripping Longford of its economic prosperity and its unique heritage, and destroying part of our heritage.

This is a savage cutback which will provide little in the way of revenue to the Exchequer given the downturn in the economic return from the sale of such properties, but it will devastate the economy of County Longford. According to PDFORRA, the closure will most likely see an increase in spending to upgrade barracks to accommodate those who are moved as a result of the closure. This is another example of the Government's lack of joined-up thinking. It decentralises and re-centralises on a whim, without full consideration of the consequences.

Connolly Barracks is an integral part of Longford town. It is situated on an historic site going back to 1619 and is at the same time a modern and vibrant working barracks that employs 180 full-time personnel and contributes more than €6 million per annum to the local economy. It was established as a cavalry barracks in the 18th and 19th centuries and was renamed Seán Connolly Barracks in 1922, when Seán Connolly and Seán McEoin drove the British army out of Longford. It took Deputy Peter Kelly and the Minister, Deputy Willie O'Dea, to drive the Irish Army out of Longford barracks in 2008. Why is the Government closing a vibrant working barracks which employs 180 full-time personnel and another 100 plus reservists, all of whom are members of our community and contribute to the viability of shops, hotels, public houses and other business in the area?

I plead with the Minister to reconsider this ill thought-out decision to close the barracks. It is important to a county that has been neglected by successive Fianna Fáil Governments. It has lost industry and jobs such as at Cardinal Health. The Government closed the courthouse in Granard. It nearly got its way in closing the courthouse in Longford town but for a Fine Gael motion at the county council which saved it. Will the Minister ask at Cabinet for this decision to be reversed? It will have a devastating effect on the entire community.

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