Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Over the years, decisions have been made by the State, generally with the best of intentions, which it subsequently has been necessary to revisit. One reason this happens is because inadequate debate has taken place, perhaps involving misinformation or a lack of information and so on. The same applies to the closure of the Army barracks because when this debate was initiated, Members were given to understand it had something to do with the financial position of the State. Thereafter, the grounds tended to move and it was suggested it was a directive from Europe. The present position, post the decision having been made, appears to be that it was operational. I suggest it cannot be a financial consideration because everyone now accepts the closure of these barracks will result in a loss. If this is the case, there is no reason for Europe to have given a directive, which means it is now down to being an operational issue. In that context, I would have thought there was more involved here than just a simple operational matter. Serious consideration should have been given to those people who are being unnecessarily affected. There is no reason this development should absolutely happen.

Second, we will have a situation where, as happened in Kildare, five buildings will be vandalised and we will have huge losses. In addition, if as part of this decision we are going to factor in the possibility of selling these sites, I believe it is being factored in at their value some six years ago whereas those sites do not have such a value now.

In the next couple of days, will the Leader bring in the Minister for Defence and let us once and for all remove the confusion which now exists among the public. This issue is not going to go away. I ask the Leader as a matter of urgency to bring in the Minister for Defence.