James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I have a couple of questions on cyber crime which I shall skip. Instead, I shall directly refer to national security and some of the remarks the Garda Commissioner made in her opening statement. She said, "We will maintain a strong focus on protecting the State and its people against all forms of terrorism, and also on tackling serious crime such as organised crime and violent crime". I wish to ask in particular about organised crime, terrorism and intelligence-led operations. It is my understanding from meeting people in communities, such as west Belfast, south Armagh, north Louth, north Monaghan and other areas, that these areas and communities are being ruled through threats, intimidation and fear by, what I would term, a vile, violent and insidious organisation. To me, and from all the people that I have spoken to in those areas, that organisation is the Provisional IRA.

I wish to ask the Garda Commissioner a question, especially in regard to a letter that was issued a number of weeks go and which has been circulated on a number of occasions. Can she tell me whether she fully sanctioned the letter? Does she believe, in all honesty, that the Provisional IRA does not exist?