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A Defence Forces training exercise in May 2011. Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Fianna Fáil to table Dáil motion against closure of army barracks

Dept of Defence says no government decisions have been made on the closures, which are reported to include barracks in Cavan, Mullingar, Clonmel, Kilkenny and Castlebar.

Updated at 12.40pm

FIANNA FÁIL is to table a private members’ motion in the Dáil today against the reported closure of a number of army barracks around the country.

The party’s spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence Dara Calleary has criticised Minister for Defence Alan Shatter for refusing to rule out any such closures.

The barracks in question include those in Cavan, Mullingar, Clonmel, Kilkenny and Castlebar, according to Fianna Fáil.

A spokesperson for Department of Defence told TheJournal.ie that while barracks closure have not been ruled out by the government, no decision has been made on such closures. They added that the government is not compelled by budgetary constraints to substantially reduce the current number of Defence Forces personnel.

“There’s no government decision on that, which would be required,” the spokesperson said.

Calleary said that “recent reports that the government plans to shut these facilities has caused great distress not only to the hundreds of army and civil personnel directly affected, but also to the wider communities”.

The Mayo TD described the barracks as “hubs of economic activity” for the towns they’re based in, adding that the soldiers and their families “are an integral part of the fabric of life” in those towns.

“They support both direct and indirect employment; they generate a demand for local goods and services; and in many cases they are of historical and cultural importance,” he said.

The Mayo TDs says that following the consolidation of defence forces activity in recent years due to the changing security situation in Northern Ireland, there is no need for further barracks closures.

The motion being put forward also opposes the gradual closure of barracks through reductions in personnel and calls on the government “to develop a rational strategy to maximise the effectiveness of the Defence Forces that encompasses their role in the towns they are based”.

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16 Comments
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    Mute Tommy
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    Oct 4th 2011, 10:43 AM

    @Liam Byrne I’m sure if it was your job your income your mortgage payment your sons and daughters only source of "bread butter clothes and education" you wouldn’t have that same idiotic opinion. Let’s put your job on the line (if your lucky enough to have one) and see what you’d think then?

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Oct 4th 2011, 11:24 AM

    My job was put on the line and I am out of work. If it’s not financially viable to keep something running, it gets shut down. Public sector shouldn’t get special treatment.
    I don’t want people to lose their jobs, but I don’t want people to be paid by the government just to keep people happy.
    It’s not fair on the rest of us.

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    Mute Tony Stamper
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    Oct 4th 2011, 12:07 PM

    Liam that sounds like PD talk. Isn’t it gas how countries like Holland, Germany, Denmark etc, countries that have low debt, low unemployment and are still growing have responsible tax rates, world class public service from cradle to grave and would look with abhorrence at parties like the Tories and the PD’s. Countries that listen to the PD style model have chronic debt, chronic unemployment but a very small few at the top who are doing well off the tax payers back. Coincidence I think not.

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    Mute Ronald
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    Oct 4th 2011, 1:20 PM

    Your missing the point. These guys won’t lose their jobs, they’re being relocated… At a considerable saving to the taxpayer.

    That’s the problem with a lot of people in this country… Let’s cut costs and get out of this mess but not if it affects me!

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    Mute Tony Stamper
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    Oct 4th 2011, 10:31 AM

    lol. They are great men in opposition aren’t they. What a bunch of sham artists. The day they get in, they’ll sell it off to a developer for a kick back and turn it in to apartments.

    They should put a motion in for “Duvet days” and late start Mondays as well/

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    Mute A. Musgrave
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    Oct 4th 2011, 11:54 AM

    Im in favour of Duvet Days!

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Oct 4th 2011, 12:06 PM

    It isn’t all that long since his own party closed Ballincollig, Fermoy, Islandbridge, Castleblayney, Kildare…

    My, how it’s easier being in opposition!

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    Mute Tim McAlpin
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    Oct 4th 2011, 12:25 PM

    You forgot Lifford!

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    Mute robert mayberry
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    Oct 4th 2011, 6:14 PM

    and rockhill,

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Oct 4th 2011, 10:30 AM

    Jobs for the sake of jobs is what got this country into this situation. We don’t need them. Close them.

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    Mute Pa Foley
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    Oct 4th 2011, 12:31 PM

    I suppose with mcguinness as president, most of the barracks will be relocated to south Armagh and the bogside anyway…

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    Mute Bren Adams
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    Oct 4th 2011, 1:01 PM

    Fianna Fáil should table a Dail motion to recover the money all there friends robbed from this country then all the Army Barracks could remain open.

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    Mute apoch632
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    Oct 4th 2011, 12:01 PM

    As a resident of Longford can I be the first to say

    Opportunist populist nonsense

    Now they want to keep them open

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    Mute Sam Silvermint
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    Oct 4th 2011, 3:02 PM

    I hope they are the soles of Berties shoes in the photo!

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    Mute David Higgins
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    Oct 4th 2011, 6:17 PM

    The IMF is already here. Too late for defence!

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    Mute Jeff
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    Oct 4th 2011, 5:47 PM

    Will anyone miss the Army ?

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