Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste mentioned that the newly appointed independent chair is Ms Julie Sinnamon. She has been an exceptional public servant and I have no doubt that she will do a very good job again on behalf of the State and all its citizens.

I wish to talk about structures in the Army, with particular reference to accommodation. Unfortunately, 11 years ago the most modern army barracks in Europe, Dún Uí Néill in Cavan, was closed. It is a location centrally situated in the Border region. We have no Army facility now between Finner Barracks in south Donegal and Aiken Barracks in Dundalk. We all know the geopolitical situation has changed in Europe, with Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and Britain's exit from the EU. An issue that needs to be considered is the number of facilities we have for our Army personnel and their location. We all want to see 10,500 people enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces. If we do this, then we need additional accommodation. I sincerely hope that the reopening of Dún Uí Néill barracks can be given urgent, detailed and favourable consideration.

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