Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Barrett, I welcome that today the Government will publish its strategy to reduce alcohol abuse. I agree with the Senator that we should take a long look at this matter before jumping in and thinking that increasing the price of alcohol is the solution. In my opinion, it is not. Unless we tackle this together as a 32-county project it will not work. If we increase the price of alcohol in the South, people will just go to the North of Ireland and buy it at a much reduced cost. We must address this on an all-island basis. In that regard, will the Leader use his good offices to make contact with the Northern Ireland Department of Health to see what strategy it has to try to tackle the abuse of alcohol on our island?

Next March, Dún Uí Néill Army Barracks will have been closed for two years as a working barracks. At the time of its closure we were told by the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, that it was surplus to requirements and there was no need for it. As a result, 120 soldiers were transferred to Dundalk and Athlone, with a small number coming to Dublin. The security of the Border remains a major issue in my part of the country. Garda resources are stretched to their limits and the nearest Army resource we have is in Athlone. Will the Leader ask the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to attend the House so that we may discuss the security of the Border region? Will he also ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, what plans he has for the barracks, which are now in the ownership of the Cavan-Monaghan education and training board? Cavan VEC, as it was known at the time, had major plans for the former Army barracks and I would like to have an update from the Minister as to how those plans stand.