Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I welcome the Minister, who has more than perhaps any other Minister led the Department in a proactive policy of combating crime, criminal and quasi-political. I commend him on the work he has done and urge him not to play down, as was the case in the past with Governments, the extent of the threat posed by the Real IRA and allied groups which, in an ominous fashion, are beginning to seek to create a combined command structure. In the past the mistake that was made by various Governments was to play down the security problem for PR reasons. It would be far better to make people face the fact that the report of the International Monitoring Commission is a disturbing one in terms of the potential of the Real IRA and such allied groups. This "Rosemary's Baby" should be strangled in its cradle rather than allow it to develop slowly. I fear that government policy in Northern Ireland and the Republic is to administer the problem; to allow the police to monitor the situation and do what they can.

I recommend a far more active and proactive policy of strangling this diabolical creation in its cradle. The way to do that is to increase activity under sections 4 and 6, which is membership of organisations and directing them. I notice there have been no prosecutions for directing subversive organisations. Much of that middle management structure could be taken out. The approach at the moment is a bit faint hearted and that cohort could be intimidated and frightened by active prosecutions. Even if they fail, the fact that people are repeatedly charged and brought to court would inconvenience them. It would be far better for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to take on any budgetary or other measures now and to increase its profile and activities rather than try to deal with those organisations when they have grown up into sullen and brutal adolescents. We should kill them off now at the beginning.

I accept it is not simply a criminal, administrative or police problem. As Senators Keaveney and Walsh have indicated, what takes place does so in a totality of relationships. It is disturbing that the churches have pointed out that 90% of the communities in the North of Ireland live in one-identity communities. The truth is we cannot control what the other side does. Our best chance of changing Northern Ireland is to address our own nationalist community. As Senator Keaveney said, our best chance is that brave young men and women will join the PSNI and stand up for hope in Northern Ireland with their respective communities.

I want to draw attention to the Minister's reference to international terrorism. I strongly recommend that he ask some of his colleagues to desist from casual grandstanding on Israel. Israel has many questions to answer but it is a democratic state, as is Ireland. The predisposition of our State should be to have a fraternal and caring approach to the State of Israel's problem with terrorism. In that respect, I have only to tune into any independent radio station on any day to hear hype and hysteria about Israel pouring across the airwaves. This is creating a very bad climate internationally in which-----