Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the first part of the Minister's response, he gave a very good reason as to why Foynes should be considered. As he outlined, it is probably one of the premier ports in the country and certainly the most welcoming. I understand the predicament the Minister is in but I urge him to consider the proposal. I acknowledge it is very close to the bottom in the pecking order of the Department of Defence but, in terms of relations between the Department, the wider community and the people who are on the seas day in, day out, it would make a very strong statement if a port of this importance had a direct connection to the Department of Defence.

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