Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

It is implicit in all of the Minister's antics and tactics, not just in the White Paper but also in his ongoing operation of the Department. I share strongly the serious concern of many citizens about the process of military Keynesianism. The Minister did it again tonight when he linked military spending with economic growth and activity. Against the backdrop of the existence of the European Defence Agency which in reality is a front for the international arms trade, that is reprehensible. I have no doubt that there is a huge amount of money to be made from the securitisation of Europe, but our money would be far better spent on other things. For example, the Minister might look at the conditions for members of the Defence Forces, whose living standards have been butchered. He talks about dealing with Army veterans when their widows and families are being driven out of Army accommodation at the Curragh Camp.

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