Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I remind Sinn Féin that key questions were posed during this debate to which no answers have been provided. Why did the former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast attack the SDLP's Alastair McDonnell for saying that IRA men were responsible for the murder? Why did Alex Maskey try to dismiss the murder as "knife culture"? Why did he rush to condemn police searches — the PSNI doing its job, as it does in any democratic state — of suspects' houses? Why were there organised riots to disrupt the police searches? Why did the IRA and Sinn Féin tell people on the ground not to go to the PSNI? Why did Gerry Adams wait for two weeks until after the family had spoken out before he found anything to say about the murder? Why have all 12 of those now commonly understood to have been responsible for or involved in this murder not been expelled from the IRA? Why were three selected?

I will return to the 12 accomplices later. However, at this stage, I would like to focus on the issue that is causing Sinn Féin such a problem but is the main reason that Fine Gael wanted to have this issue discussed by the House. We want it to support the McCartney family fully, unequivocally and totally, and that is why we have tabled this motion. Let us be in no doubt about it, the McCartney family has done a great service to our nation, not just because of their courage in facing down the Provisional mafia — that goes without question and they have been complimented by everyone on that — but the real service that they have rendered to the Irish people is that they have ripped away the hypocrisy, the lies, the subterfuge and falseness of the Provisional movement. They have given courage to countless others to stand up to its thuggery and criminality, and that is what causes it the real problem. They did this by exposing the pseudo-patriotism, the selfish criminality and the cruel intimidation of the greatest band of thugs ever seen in Ireland.

Essentially what we see now is the relevance of the stand taken by the McCartney sisters. We are witnessing a turning point in our nation's affairs, and the catalyst for that sea change has been that brave group of women, whom most of us honour tonight. I believe that they are going to the United States, and I wish them God-speed. I hope that they will be recognised in the White House on St. Patrick's Day; they are absolutely entitled to that. I am proud to have them there representing all that is decent in the Irish nation. It is important to look back on how this has been handled by the provisional movement in its military and political wings.

A major comparison is emerging between the double-speak of the provisional movement and the truth as spoken by the McCartney family. We all know the provisional leaders whose spokesmen are past masters of double-speak. They could give university lectures on equivocation and double-talk but all that double-talk has been seen for what it is before the simple truth spoken by the McCartney sisters. It reminds me of the line: "Truth is great, it shall prevail; when all is done, the lie shall rot". That is what is happening before our very eyes, and is it not marvellous to see it.

It is clear at this stage that the brutal murder of Robert McCartney brings Sinn Féin and the IRA to a crossroads. It also highlights the point made by many speakers during this debate that Sinn Féin has an option. It can use this tragedy to break its links with a military wing and with criminality once and for all because all of us have to face the facts as they are tonight, more than a month after this murder. The killers are still walking the streets of Belfast. It is clear this was a brutal crime carried out by well-known members of the IRA who are responsible for hiding behind smoky mirrors. The IRA expelled three of its members, allegedly as a token of its disgust at republican ideals being betrayed, but there were 12 accomplices. What about the other nine? No answers have been given on that.

When they were talking about their disgust at the brutal murder of Robert McCartney and the expulsion of three members of the IRA as a consequence, did they give any thought to expelling the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, who was gunned down in cold blood? Did that thought ever occur to them? In so far as they would take any notice of any comments on that, might I suggest to them that they could at this stage give consideration to that?

What is now clear from all the evidence in the Short Strand is that the self-proclaimed protectors of the people have turned out to be the predators of the people. Essentially, the guard dogs have turned into wolves. What is also clear is that in confronting this, the McCartney family has provided a formula for the right kind of response to fight these predators. They had the courage to do it and they have spoken up with simple truth and before that simple truth the double-talk falls. It reminds me of the line: "Beauty is truth, truth is beauty. That is all I know on earth and all I need to know". That is the simple point that has been demonstrated time and again in the past four or five weeks by the McCartney family.

What is also clear is that if this matter is to be brought to an end, these killers must be brought to justice and to achieve that Hugh Orde and the Police Service of Northern Ireland will need hard evidence that will stand up in court. The intimidation of witnesses to date has meant that those who want to give evidence, in so far as they do, have received death threats making them stay quiet. The provisional movement has stooped to absolute thuggery warning people not to go to the PSNI because it was IRA business but the IRA had not bargained on the brave stand taken by the McCartney sisters. People are tired of the sham of these IRA pseudo-patriots prancing around like local warlords in the Short Strand and elsewhere.

What has also emerged recently is evidence of a complex web of IRA criminality uncovered by the law enforcement authorities in this jurisdiction. That makes it clear that the provisional movement is addicted to criminality. There is the evidence of the Northern Bank raid and otherwise in this regard. The Garda investigation into the money laundering operation was so thorough one must wonder at the wisdom of the Government's willingness to ignore such activities in the pursuit of a deal last December. It is clear that the issue of an IRA commitment to ending criminal activity was only introduced into the equation after the talks had broken down, but I am not making any political point on that.

My real concern is that the huge proceeds of this criminality is to be used, and is being used, to corrupt our democratic process. It is vitally important that all political parties here operate under the same rules and fund-raising constraints. All IRA criminality must be permanently ended if Sinn Féin is to be accepted as a fully democratic party. Sinn Féin must use its influence in this regard and in so far as it is unable to deal with any members of the provisional movement and get them to accept that approach, those people must be expelled.

I have made it clear to those in Sinn Féin that I want them fully involved in the democratic process here. I suppose in the coming days we will be bombarded with posters of Sinn Féin and Gerry Adams celebrating Sinn Féin 100. One would think, particularly in the light of recent events, that the founder of the original genuine Sinn Féin, Arthur Griffith, would turn in his grave at being associated with this 1969 breakaway group now calling itself Sinn Féin. In the light of the recent evidence of criminality and the enormous amount raised by the provisional movement over the past 15 years, now totalling €200 million——

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