The junior Minister for Defence has confirmed there will be no further changes to numbers stationed at Custume Barracks, Athlone.
Minister of State Paul Kehoe said plans should be finalised next month and he said there had been a lot of consultation with the Defence Forces before reorganisational changes outlined earlier this week.
“We’ll have it done and dusted in a short while, he said, adding that he’s confident the 6th Battalion will remain in Athlone.
He was in Athlone on Wednesday October 24 to review the 107th Infantry Battalion before they leave for Lebanon and said he appreciates their commitment.
“I complimented all the people involved in Lebanon for the sacrifices they make on behalf of their country in peacekeeping duties and commend everyone involved,” he said.
He had a special word for the 62 younger people on their first tour, saying it is a very difficult time to be leaving their families and friends “at a particularly difficult time” in Lebanon.
He assured them they will be fully equipped and “there will be no effort spared on the Department’s behalf to ensure they are looked after”.
He was unimpressed with an interruption by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke and Cllr Paul Hogan who gave him a letter to give to the Taoiseach on behalf of the people of Athlone, complaining about the downgrading of Custume Barracks and the refusal of Government to meet any town councillors to discuss the decision.
Minister Kehoe responded that he was “quite disappointed you had to make a political stunt on a day when people are going to Lebanon and it’s a family day out”.
Later Cllrs O’Rourke and Hogan vented their fury at a government they say has been stonewalling local representatives by refusing to meet.
Cllr O’Rourke said he will “continue gatecrashing for as long as they exclude us”.
“An occasion like this at the Army barracks shouldn’t be politicized, but this Government seems to do it time and time again,” he said,
Sinn Fein councillor Paul Hogan said the last time non-government parties were not invited to an event at Custume Barracks involving a government minister, “they said it was a mistake or an omission and it would be rectified for future occasions, and we see then from today’s ceremony that we didn’t get an invitation again”.
“We’re all working for the benefit of the town, we’re all elected members,” he said.
Cllr O’Rourke defended his actions: “What other way do we bring this to the attention of the public, when the Governmet are content in making
A deputation to meet the special advisor to Eamon Gilmore at 3pm on Wednesday was cancelled on Wednesday morning.
