09/03/2011

Cabinet Ensures Full Irish-Speaking Battalion

The full retention of the Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa barracks in Renmore has been effectively secured as the outgoing government has signed legislation that ensures a full-strength Irish speaking Battalion in the Irish Army.

In one of his last acts at the Cabinet table, Minister for Defence Éamon Ó Cuív, confirmed the government signed off on an agreement that a full Irish speaking battalion would be maintained under any planned restructuring of the Defence Forces.

Ó Cuív said the government signed off on the commitment at a Cabinet meeting last week, just days after the general election. He commented: “Government made the decision, committing that in any restructuring of the Defence Forces, a full-strength Irish Battallion should be maintained at Renmore.”

There had been fears in the lead-up to the general election that plans were afoot to reduce the personnel at Renmore.

(JG/GK)

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