Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

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 was not here for the debate on this important issue. I would like at this point to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, to the House. The security of the State is at risk as a result of the proposals which the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, proposes to make to Cabinet.

With the indulgence of the House, I would like to put the following on the record of the House. During the past couple of days I obtained a security report which states that in the last eight months or so the PSNI has had to deal with up to ten devices, all viable and not elaborate hoaxes, left on the northern side of the Border. This occurred in the Rosslea-Newtownbutler area. Also, a number of devices were recently dealt with in Wattle Bridge. A jeep, used to transport one of these devices, ended up in Castle Sanderson forest, which straddles the Border with Fermanagh and Cavan. This incident took place within seven miles of Dún Uí Néill barracks in Cavan town, one of the barracks which it is proposed to close. I also have before me a document outlining dissident Republican activity in 2010 and up to 13 October 2011. It details serious subversive activity, Loyalist and Republican------