Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Leader will have some interest in what I have to say because it concerns the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste and then Taoiseach was flown to Europe in a PC-12 aircraft because the Learjet aircraft, which is 20 years old, is on the ground in need of repair. While he was out there, the PC-12 developed problems and he could not fly back. He was left stranded in Brussels because the aircraft was not available.

Last week at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, the Tánaiste expressed his frustration and annoyance about there being nothing positive from the likes of me and other Members of the Oireachtas with regard to the Defence Forces. How can we be positive when this is what is happening? An extremely dangerous mission was carried out off the south-west coast. I know Army Rangers live in the Acting Leader's geographic area and that she knows the danger they were put in by not having two helicopters available to bring them out to the ship they captured. This is simply not good enough. Rather than expressing concern or frustration at the likes of me raising issues of concern on behalf of the brave men and women who are serving this country day in and day out, the Tánaiste should go out to Baldonnel and have a look at the number of aircraft that are grounded because they are not repairable or there are no people to repair them. He should go down to Haulbowline and look at the €300 million worth of ships tied up along with two new ships that have been brought from New Zealand and are not in service. He should look at the state of the Curragh. I know the Acting Leader has advocated on that housing and raised the disastrous and disgusting state it has been allowed to fall into. I know money is now being made available to upgrade that housing but it is not good enough to blame us.

At the end of the day, the Defence Forces have been let down for the past 15 or 20 years. I made the point that when I served in the Defence Forces, I was happy to get soggy egg sandwiches and cold tea because morale was high. It is no longer high, as the Acting Leader knows better than I do. I ask her to relay those remarks to the Tánaiste.