Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

Last Friday the Chief of Staff of the Army visited Dún Uí Néill barracks in Cavan town, one of the barracks proposed for closure by the Minister for Defence. It is due to close at the end of March next year. During his visit the Army Chief of Staff requested that a delegation of Army spouses hold a meeting with him, and six spouses attended at the entrance to Dún Uí Néill barracks. One of these was told she would not be admitted and when she questioned this, an officer replied that it was because she is a Fianna Fáil county councillor. She would not be allowed on the delegation as a result. That woman has had a close association with the Army for over 40 years and is married to a former Army sergeant. She has two sons currently serving in the Army. She was made to stand outside the barrier at the entrance to Dún Uí Néill barracks for an hour and 43 minutes last Friday because she was not deemed suitable to attend as part of a delegation to meet the Chief of Staff because she is a Fianna Fáil county councillor.

Who gave that direction for the woman not to be admitted? Was it the officer who delivered the message and quite clearly told her she was not being allowed into the barracks because she is a councillor? Was it the Chief of Staff or was it the Minister for Defence who gave the direction that this woman should not be admitted to the barracks? She has been a good advocate down through the years for Army personnel based in Cavan and throughout the country. Will the Leader use his good offices to find out who gave the direction preventing her from attending that delegation, leaving her standing for over an hour and 43 minutes in the rain outside the barrier at the entrance to the barracks last Friday morning? She had no car in which to leave and had to wait for the others to come out of the barracks.