Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

" — commends the Government's resolute action in facing the economic crisis and notes that this action is now bearing fruit;

— supports the Government in taking the further difficult and unpopular decisions that are necessary to restore the public finances;

— accepts that reform and reorganisation in the public service, including the redeployment of staff, are essential to maximise value for money for the taxpayer;

— accepts that, because of reductions in the budget and strength of the Defence Forces required by the 2011 Estimates decided by the previous Government and because of the constraints imposed by the EU/IMF agreement entered into by the previous Government, further savings are required;

— notes that these savings are being examined in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure currently underway;

— rejects the glaring inconsistency of the proponents of the motion who, when in Government, closed ten barracks and also caused the fiscal crisis that the current Government has to address;

— notes that the experience of the previous Government confirms that barrack closures deliver a substantial efficiency gain to the Defence Forces; and

— condemns mischievous attempts to exaggerate the impact of these necessary decisions and create unnecessary fears among local communities."

I wish to share time with Deputies Buttimer, Darragh Murphy, O'Reilly, Heather Humphreys and Conlan, by agreement.

See this speech in context