Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their constructive suggestions. I am very much taken by Deputy Smith's point. When talking to military personnel, including those in the Naval Service, Air Corps or Army, there is a strong link back to geography and where barracks were present. Of that there is no doubt. The focus of capital investment at the moment is on upgrading existing facilities but I will talk to the Deputy further in respect of the issue he has raised.

The issues raised by Deputy Moynihan have to be sorted in the context of the working time directive in locations such as Portlaoise. Historically, a dependence built up on the Army in such places, which in itself must be looked at and reflected on with regard to the appropriateness of some of the duties that are still asked of the military on the civil side in the modern day. That is a matter of ongoing review.

On Deputy Howlin's point, there has been a commitment within government, in terms of the commission and the implementation of the plan, to a progressive increase in capital.

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