Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I have no intention of being disrespectful to the Ceann Comhairle or to this House. I asked a straight question of the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, namely, whether he would he do those stationed in the barracks in Donegal the courtesy of meeting them. It was an open invitation. The Minister responded that if he decided to go, he would not let me know in this House but would tell another Deputy. This was disrespectful both to my position as a long-standing Member of this House and to the House itself. That is why I took this matter so seriously. I have too much respect for the House and for the chair in which the Ceann Comhairle is seated. I have occupied that chair myself for many hours in the past. Perhaps I will have an opportunity to do so again.

It is my position that the Minister was disrespectful to me, to the House and to the Army. He tried to politicise the Army, an entity which should be above politics for every democrat since the foundation of the State. The Minister told me he would impart the information to my constituency colleague but not to me in this Chamber. That is why I said what I did.

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