Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I have to begin with an expression of admiration. Courage was always in short supply when it came to taking tough decisions during the wasted years of the Celtic tiger boom. However, there was one area where the Deputies opposite showed a modicum of decisiveness. When in Government, they presided over the closure of no fewer than ten barracks, as Deputy Calleary boasted this evening. Their justification was based on a perfectly logical and reasonable analysis. The consolidation of barracks into a smaller number of locations was a key objective of the previous Government's White Paper on Defence and recommended in many reports. It remains a key objective of the ongoing defence modernisation programme to maximise the effectiveness of the Defence Forces. I accept the previous Government's analysis. The facts remain the facts, regardless of who is in government.

However, there is nothing admirable in the sheer brass neck entailed in putting this disingenuous motion before the House.

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