Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I have to acknowledge that, obviously, we have not got a comprehensive settlement that ends these activities. That is the sad reality. In terms of punishment beatings and acts of violence, thankfully they have not reached the level they reached in the past. They are taking place at a time when we thought we would have eliminated them. For now and for the future, we have identified clearly the outstanding issues. There is an enormous understanding of those issues among the people. Whether there is total support for their resolution is a question on which the people of Northern Ireland have to focus their minds. I hope there will be support and that we get a comprehensive agreement that ends paramilitary activity, sectarian violence and other criminality.

That brings us to the linked issue of policing. It is the Government's view, and I believe the view of all parties in this House, that if we do not get a resolution to the policing issue — and we were almost there — we will not end these acts because the policing issue is central to these issues and to nationalist communities. That is the reason many of these activities are happening. In sincere response to Deputy Rabbitte, I believe we have to continue to try to get people to accept the elements of the agreement of last December, which were worked out over a two year period, and to try to build up trust and confidence. It is difficult but it is something we will not give up on.

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