Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

There is an emergency. An active organisation, a so-called army whose objectives hit at the core of our democracy, which challenges our Constitution, breaks the laws legitimately enacted by a democratically elected Parliament and scornfully ignores the democratic will of the vast majority of people on this island, continues to operate in this State. In addition, dissident republican groups are prepared to bomb and kill innocent people to further their objectives. Against this background, we are told there is no emergency. This island has been in a state of emergency since the foundation of the State because a minority has refused to accept the will of the majority or democracy.

See this speech in context