Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I regret that we will not be taking statements on housing today but I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Deputy Penrose, an honourable and decent man who came into this House on a number of occasions. He was unique among Ministers in this and previous Administrations in that he listened to what was being said and acted to the best of his abilities.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, to the House to outline the criteria used to decide on the closure of the barracks in Clonmel, Castlebar, Mullingar and Cavan. While I appreciate that the closure of Castlebar barracks may be a smokescreen given that it houses fewer than half a dozen soldiers, most of whom are due to retire, and is little more than a storage facility, the other three barracks were strategic to the defence of this country. We are given to understand that the decision was based on economic and strategic considerations. The most modern barracks in Europe is located seven miles from the Border at County Fermanagh, an area which is alive with dissident republican activity. We are to believe that it is not as strategically important as the seven barracks located in the Curragh where the military top brass play soldiers at their ease. They do not want to be discomfited by moving to places like Cavan, which is not strategic to them.