Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the family of the young girl in Tallaght. The issue I wish to raise is addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality, but concerns his other responsibility, defence. Will the Leader arrange to bring the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to address the deplorable situation where the Department of Defence seeks to rent a premises in Cavan to accommodate Reserve Defence Force training while simultaneously closing down and selling the state of the art Army barracks in Cavan. I refer to a tender issued in the local paper this morning. The people of Cavan have been told, just as people in other counties have been told, that barrack closures are being made in order to make savings. I see no economic gain in closing a barracks like that in Cavan when the Department then wants to rent a premises to train the Reserve Defence Force.

Why sell a state-of-the-art facility to rent another space? It is absolute and complete madness. I would be interested to hear the comments of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the comprehensive spending review if we take into account the paying of rents and associated costs when renting a property while the Department already owns a state-of-the-art facility. It seems we will spend the same amount annually in renting a new premises to train the Reserve Defence Force as we would have in running the barracks. That does not make sense to me and does not provide any savings.

The displacement of soldiers and their families from the sale of the barracks is grossly unfair. For the people of Cavan and other areas to see such tenders in newspapers, showing how the Department of Defence is openly seeking to rent premises when suitable facilities already exist, is a sign of complete madness. It will not wash with the people and I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Defence before the House as a matter of urgency to clarify the position.