Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee Stage
This was not grouped with the earlier amendments and I am mandated to press this. It is something the Labour Party feels strongly on. I listened intently to what the Minster had to say earlier on. I accept and understand that he has a position. His argument seems to be that we cannot provide for it in this legislation. I think the phrase he used was "shoehorn it". If he is not willing to work with us on some form of joint amendment to ensure that the spirit of what all of us in the Opposition are trying to achieve by these amendments, could he give us an indication of where will he put it, if it is not going to be shoehorned in here? What is he going to do that is in any way different? We are trying to ensure that an armed force acting in a certain way, or parts of an armed forced acting in a certain way, can be designated as a terrorist organisation or group. What is he going to do that will in any way support what the people of Ireland believe? He is not going to shoehorn it in this legislation but he has not said he will work with us on any amendments. That is gone as well. What is he going to do? Is he going to do anything? Here is the opportunity for him to declare what he is going to do to meet the requirements of the Opposition and, dare I say it, the spirit of the overwhelming majority of the members of his own Government to ensure that this is dealt with.