Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

In Clonmel, Deputy Healy and the Tipperary workers' group and the United Left Alliance have correctly examined the situation and are absolutely opposed to this. Perhaps the Taoiseach could take a lesson from history in the case of Clonmel. Even Cromwell was persuaded not to loose destruction on that particular town, following the opposition of Aodh Dubh Ó Néill, his soldiers and the citizens.

Has the Taoiseach lost a soldier of some rank over this in Mullingar today? Has the Minister of State in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Penrose, tendered his resignation over the closure of these barracks and the dislocation this will cause to families? Has the Taoiseach accepted it?

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