James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

This is a black day for the midlands, including Athlone, coming on top of the closure of barracks in Longford, Cavan and Athlone. I am disappointed that the 4th Western Brigade is now to be taken out of the midlands area. Dublin is not the geographical heart of this country. It is time for the "Dublin is best" mentality to be stopped by the Government. I want to see it stopped because the midlands has suffered more than its fair share from the economic fallout.

Fianna Fáil closed Longford Barracks and in its Green Paper it had plans to close Mullingar barracks as well.

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