John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I join in the calls for a debate on the full fiscal projections for the year ahead. It is timely. Given the closures last year and some of the outrageous predictions made, it would be no harm to bring a sense of balance to this debate and spread it out evenly over a 12 month period. As public representatives, we have a contribution to make in that area.

A debate on crime would be welcome. If public representatives are advocating the placing of armed soldiers on our streets, a debate is required to ensure a degree of transparency and clarity. We should remember that the deployment of troops at Shannon Airport as an aid to the civil power releases police to guard the streets. Providing a cordon within a seven mile radius around Shannon Airport is a role for the Defence Forces – a welcome one – but if people think we should be putting armed soldiers on the street, this country is in a sorrier state than I realised.