Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is my pleasure to second the Curragh of Kildare (Amendment) Bill 2022, put forward by Senator O' Loughlin and to speak about the Curragh. As a Mayo person, it might seem strange that I speak so fondly of the place but I actually spent quite a lot of time there during my time in the Defence Forces. As an Army reservist I did much of my training in the Curragh. I did my potential officer and young officer courses there. We walked and ran every inch of those Curragh plains, night and day. I got to know it intimately. I spent nights sleeping out on it and digging trenches and all of that. Those are my fond memories of the Curragh. It is a special, unique place. There is nowhere else like it in Ireland.

From Senator O' Loughlin's contribution I learned a lot about the history of the place. I was not aware of its standing, not just nationally, but in Europe, of being untouched for so long. It is a special place and it is not acceptable for people to rock up, camp there and do what they like, whenever they like. There are laws in the State. There are rules in the society in which we choose to live and be part of. It is not okay that people living in the area have been directly impacted and have had to close businesses and that the law is not sufficiently robust to deal with that. I am heartened to hear that the Tánaiste has visited and that the issue is being taken very seriously. Obviously, he would have been working closely with Senator O'Loughlin in any event. It illustrates the importance of having a local representative who knows the area very well and is passionate about the Curragh and Kildare and can represent the views of people in the area. It is unlikely that a Bill like this would come from somebody other than a Member of the Oireachtas from Kildare. That is the importance of having local representatives here with the ability to table legislation and for it to be facilitated.

Senator O' Loughlin made an important point that the Bill seeks to protect not just something that is important to the people of Kildare but to the people of Ireland. She mentioned horse racing, one of our most important industries which employs a lot of people. The Curragh is also the home of the Army and of many soldiers, former and present of Óglaigh na hÉireann, who have gone through there and families living there as well. Many of the defence community living in other parts of Ireland have a huge grá, admiration and passion for the Curragh and what is there and its history.

During the recent European election campaign, I had the pleasure to visit the fantastic museum in the Curragh. Maybe I am saying this as someone who has a interest in the Defence Forces, but I think that any person who visits this museum will be amazed by the collection of artefacts and memorabilia, including old uniforms, and the stories there. There is a fantastic story to be told about the history of the Defence Forces and Ireland's peacekeeping missions over many decades. All of that is on display in the museum.

The Curragh is a very special place. It is deserving of respect. Clearly, there are people not doing so and not respecting the people who live, work, have businesses and employ people there. This needs to be dealt with. It is out of that respect for the Curragh and for those people that I am very happy to support my colleague, Senator O' Loughlin and second the Bill.