Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge this is a safety matter and safety is of primary importance. Surely, however, local people should be paid the courtesy of notice in a suitable manner and it should be one of the aims of the Curragh forum to address that matter. The current signage in use is inappropriate, inadequate, open to vandalism and does not give sufficient notice to users of the road.

The Minister of State referred to the Defence Act 1954. Section 269 of the Act requires that notice be given in at least two local newspapers and, as the Minister of State mentioned, on a local radio station. I understand that section 271 of the Act states that compensation must be paid if rights and privileges are withdrawn as a result of military manoeuvres, all of which is very important. It is good to see there is continuing recruitment and other aspects of training. However, relations between local residents and the Defence Forces should be nurtured and should be mutually beneficial. Adequate notice is incredibly important.

See this speech in context