Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The point I would like to make regards the Defence Forces. We now know that there have been 69 perpetrators of crime. That is 0.8% of serving members. The other 99.2% have, as far as we know, unblemished reputations. We had the Dublin Pride parade last weekend, I was proud to be at it, but I thought it was very wrong that the Dublin Pride organisers withdrew their invitation to the Defence Forces on foot of what has happened. I know many members of the Defence Forces who are fine and upstanding people. It is wrong that they are all being tarnished because of what happened in this case. I have previously raised the issue of illegal encampments. We have an ongoing situation in the Curragh, particularly at this time of year. About 40 visitors arrived with their homes on Sunday evening. The adjacent guest house has had to close as a result. There are issues of animal welfare. I spoke to somebody this morning who rescued a dog and brought it to a vet. This goes on and on. We need a debate in this House on illegal encampments in general. In my county, it mainly happens on the Curragh but I am conscious it happens in other areas of the county and around the country. It is beyond time for a real conversation in the House about illegal encampments and how we deal with them.