Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

It is a fait accompli that the barracks in Cavan will be closed. As I understand it, there is no economic benefit in this regard. The cost of closing the barracks will be equivalent to its remaining open. As I stated, the Minister, Deputy Penrose, is at least making a great stand for Mullingar barracks. I commend his efforts in that regard. However, others are notable in their silence, except in their speeches in this House. I am sure they attend public meetings in their constituencies. Fine words on the closure of these barracks and the impact of this on people's families are no good to the people in Clonmel, Cavan or Mullingar. It is the result of the vote that will matter.

The Government amendment states: ".....accepts that reform and reorganisation of the public service, including the effective use of State assets, is a key element of these plans". We all know that there is no hope of any assets being realised or of any money being earned by the State from the sale of these assets in the current economic climate. It is hard to imagine a modern military purpose-built barracks securing much funding on the open market. There may be some that would find use it, such as the Americans. Perhaps the Government, which wants us to rejoin the Commonwealth, might sell it to the British Army.