Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister to consider that two of the stations being closed are in Donegal and to take account of the social, economic and security implications of this. The two stations that are being closed, Lifford and Rockhill, have been an excellent back-up to the civil authorities there for 30 or 40 years. In addition, there are still cross-Border incursions. I was at a funeral in the area some months ago and in the same graveyard that evening a man was taken across the Border and shot dead in Doneyloop. There are many incursions from Northern Ireland into Donegal. All of north Donegal will now be left without any military presence except Finner Camp. I have nothing against Finner; they are doing excellent work there with the Air Corps.

The Minister's colleague gave an undertaking that the Minister would respond positively to what I am going to ask him. In view of the fact that two stations are being closed and the consequent disruption to families, who have to leave their homes and travel through Barnesmore to Finner and so on, will the Minister do these families and his personnel in Lifford and Rockhill the courtesy of meeting them to explain his position, if only to thank them for services rendered so far?

I do not know whether the Minister has been in Donegal yet and visited any of these barracks, but before the final closure will he not visit them, as a gesture, and meet these people man to man? The Chief of Staff was there, but it was sop in áit na scuaibe. Deputy O'Shea will understand that. I mean no disrespect to the Chief of Staff, but as far as we are concerned the Minister is the kernel of the whole thing. Will the Minister go to Donegal and meet the personnel of these two camps?

See this speech in context