Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I could be forgiven for thinking the Minister's reply to my question was the reply to the first question. All the answers from the Minister are the same. I am really disappointed and quite disgusted with the Minister's attitude towards the PDF and the RDF. I question whether it is constitutionally proper for the Minister to be both the Minister for Justice and Equality and also the Minister for Defence. He has almost banjaxed the two outfits. It is his intent to leave us without any defence. The other day I heard the Minister refer to Derry, An Doire, as Londonderry. I question his fitness for office in these very sensitive positions. I note the Minister's reply to my question about the members of the RDF in Clonmel and his mealy-mouthed words of congratulations and thanks for the service while at the same time he is cutting their gratuity and leaving them go to hell or to Connacht. We kept Cromwell out of Clonmel but we could not stop the Minister from closing our barracks. He will render our gardaí ineffective because they do not have squad cars or tools of the trade. I am quite appalled at the Minister's reply. We want to encourage young people to become involved, to be civic-spirited and to join the RDF. Like Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, I ask why they were not encouraged to participate in the seven-day training course. The Minister seems to believe the volunteers are lethargic, but I do not think so. There may be other reasons. I ask the Minister, in all humanity, to be fair.

The number of brigades is being cut from three to two. This is a savage attack. We found new premises in Clonmel after a delay of a number of months when the RDF had no place to train. The volunteers had to stay at home because they had no place in which to train. The Department rented the premises. Is it now the case that the rental contract will be broken? This decision is an insult to the serving RDF members in Clonmel and Tipperary. I pay tribute to their sterling work over the years in support of the Army throughout the county and the country. They are badly served by this Government and by the Minister in particular.

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