Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I want to use them. I want to express the disbelief and shock of the people of Tipperary and surrounding districts who have been involved with the RDF over many years. I pay tribute to former members - some of whom are retired and are quite ill - and to current serving members who are being discarded as if they were not fit for purpose or not wanted. Is that the thanks our State offers these people who took risks, who made the choice to undertake a seven-day training course every year and to be available and ready to support the Army and An Garda Síochána at different times? We cannot just close the book on this chapter as if it never happened. Tipperary and Clonmel have a proud tradition of association with the Army for nearly 350 years. The barracks in Clonmel lies empty. People who live next to the barracks have been telephoning me from 24 November until this Monday to complain about the noise of the burglar alarms. This shows the scant interest of the Minister in that institution. The barracks have been handed over to the property division of the Department. It is a listed building which is part of the proud heritage of the connection of the Army with Clonmel and the south east. Business people in Clonmel are very annoyed because when their business security alarms are activated nobody will put up with it. Local people cannot sleep at night because of the noise of the alarms ringing in their ears.

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