Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister for Defence and thank him for coming in to take this motion. As Fine Gael spokesperson on defence, I have been requested by a number of members of the Defence Forces to ask the Minister about the accommodation used for the May Day demonstrations. It has been brought to my attention that the accommodation used for the Defence Forces from the Western Command was inadequate and of a poor standard. Approximately 300 men had to sleep in a hangar with no heat. The washing facilities were poor and at quite a distance from the sleeping quarters. Health and safety regulations were breached and soldiers had to boil their water by gas in the sleeping area.

We consider Ireland to have a modern Defence Force and the May Day demonstrations were well flagged in advance. Therefore, adequate time was available for the planning of proper accommodation for the Defence Forces. No expense was spared on the European Presidency yet our Defence Forces did not get, and do not always get, the best treatment. I am particularly disappointed for the people of the Western Command who had to move base to the Dublin area because of the May Day demonstrations.

The Minister must agree that it is inappropriate to use gas to boil water in an unheated area being used as sleeping quarters by up to 300 men. I urge the Minister to ensure that in the future more consideration is given to our forces. The facilities for this occasion should have been well planned as it was not a spur of the moment decision. It would be different if immediate plans had to be made for such an occasion.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I hope he can throw some light on the situation and that this is the last time we see such inadequate facilities being provided for some of our Defence Forces.