Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are almost two hours into this meeting and people are coming late to put questions, which is fair enough. There has been much misrepresentation of a letter sent by the Commissioner to me. In fairness to her, at no stage did she state that the IRA does not exist, either in that letter or at any stage orally or in written form, and it is important to put this on the record. I disagree with any assessment that suggests that the Provisional IRA continues to exist. I believe it left the scene ten years ago. This is my view and the view of my party, but the Garda Commissioner has never expressed this view. It is important to put this on the record. My opinion is that her assessment is pretty much in line with the assessment of the PSNI, and I cannot understand any of the criticism she has received from the Senator or some aspects of our media. It is preposterous to suggest that a Garda Commissioner who has led the crime and security division of An Garda Síochána, as she recently noted in her assessment, and who has lost members of her force, tragically, sadly and regrettably for me as a republican, to the IRA in the past would in any way condone willingly the ongoing activities, as has been alleged. It is preposterous. These are my comments on the matter.