Results 4,081-4,100 of 4,905 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: This is very difficult to deal with. The Minister, Deputy Shatter, did not have the guts to come into this House to read this scurrilous speech which he obviously wrote and which he handed to his junior Minister to deliver. He is doing a very good job at-----

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----inciting hatred. It is a disgrace that the Minister does not have the guts to come to the House to deliver this scurrilous speech, which he obviously wrote. This is about 700 soldiers, their families and their children.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is not about the past; it is not about lies which the Minister of State is trying to portray here. This is about people.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is very hard to take that the Minister does not have the guts to come into this House to deliver his own speech.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: I was a Member of the last Seanad and was very proud-----

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Our Ministers had a bit of decorum.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Our Ministers had a bit of decorum and manners-----

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----but the Minister of State obviously does not.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Untruths and scurrilous remarks.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Who is in government?

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank colleagues on all sides for their contributions. I regret the Minister of State made a scurrilous contribution to this debate and did not take seriously the amendment put down in good faith by my party and out of genuine concern for the 700 members of the Army and their families. I regret the issue was not taken seriously by the Minister of State. I regret also that the Minister...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: ------that is taking place seven miles from Dún Uí Néill Army barracks in Cavan town, which barracks, I repeat, the Minister, Deputy Shatter, proposes to close.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am disappointed that the Minister of State did not take this debate seriously. He simply went into a rant about the EU and IMF, the usual rant from all Government Ministers to try to justify unpopular decisions. To those colleagues opposite who may not realise it, I say, "You are in Government now and you have to make decisions". Make the decisions and take the responsibility for making...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: As pointed out by a number of speakers on this side, it is up to the Government to decide where savings are to be made. While I accept that savings must be made within the Department of Defence, taking this out on 700 soldiers and their families is not the way to go about it. The document I have before me details the wages of the top rank and file of the armed forces. Most of the people...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: These people are insulated in one of seven barracks in the Curragh. These are the people who are making the balls for the Minister to throw. Will the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, as a sensible and reasonable businessman point out to the Minister for Defence, Deputy Alan Shatter, that no savings will be made by closing these barracks? On the contrary, it will costs tens of millions...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: On the contrary, we are not. Closures of several barracks by the previous Fianna Fáil Government saved €4 million. What savings will be made in these further closures? That is why no figures have been produced. Senator Gilroy and his party colleagues should check the debates in this and the Lower House when the previous Fianna Fáil Government had to close ten barracks. What was said...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Fianna Fáil is a responsible party. I am raising this matter on behalf of those Army personnel in my county who will be affected by these closures and the other 600 personnel in the four other locations. This is a serious matter for these personnel. It is also serious for the security of the State. I am glad Senator Paul Coghlan has come back into the Chamber.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: He, as well as Senator Landy, claimed there would be no redundancies. There may be no redundancies on paper. The reality, however, is some of the personnel in question will have to resign or retire early without full pensions because they will not be able to afford to commute 120 km every day.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: Will the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, bring the message back to the Government from this Chamber this evening that these barracks are essential to the security of the State and that it makes no economic sense to close them? I commend the motion to the House.

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

Diarmuid Wilson: I move: ''That Seanad Éireann: — recognises that Army barracks are an integral part of the local economy in the towns in which they are based; — affirms and supports the crucial role that soldiers and their families play in the fabric of the local communities where they are stationed; — acknowledges the consolidation of Army barracks in recent years due to the changed security...