Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I listened to my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, this morning say that this legislation is unnecessary and I would agree with him only if the problem went away, but unfortunately it has not gone away.

I welcome the fact that we discuss this matter on a yearly basis. We introduced emergency agriculture legislation during the foot and mouth crisis and were given an absolute assurance that it would be discussed after 12 months, but we still have not had an opportunity to debate it in the House. At least this legislation is discussed on an annual basis.

I represent a constituency that has more to gain or lose from the peace process than any other in this country. County Monaghan has the longest border with Northern Ireland and we all want to see my area treated the same as any other part of the country as far as job creation and a normal society are concerned. Thankfully, since the ceasefire that has largely been the case.

Going back to the Omagh bombing, however, those of us who attended the funerals and deal with the families on an ongoing basis are aware of the trauma they are going through. I am glad at least one person is being investigated for that tragic affair. Many other people, however, know who took part in it. It concerns me that people at the highest level know who took part in the bombing but only one person is behind bars.

The recent murder of Robert McCartney raises many questions, as do the criminal and paramilitary activities we have seen around the country. As Deputy Gerard Murphy said, many people out there are still active and, thank God, some of them are being put behind bars, as is only right.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this legislation but I wish it did not have to be there. Under the Good Friday Agreement that we all supported, some issues were contentious. To me, one of the most contentious issues was that all prisoners, from both sides, would be released within two years — it happened within a number of months. The other contentious issue was decommissioning. That has been made a mockery of and while some small effort was made to deal with it, the reality is that it has not happened. It is important those areas are dealt with.

The decommissioning of mindsets is even more important. Coming up to an election, we heard the leader of Sinn Féin calling on the IRA to consider giving up arms. After 8 December we all understood that was part of the agreement but we are now told it will hopefully be decided before the end of the summer. This issue was part and parcel of the Good Friday Agreement. If we want peace to last, we must see real progress in this area. I know it is not easy. I know it is hard to change people who have adopted a mindset for years and believe theirs is the correct way. I did not realise how serious this was until I visited some European countries that recorded what happened in the two world wars. I saw at first hand what human beings did to each other. I saw how they can build railroads and furnaces to kill their fellow human beings. When one sees this, it helps one to understand the mindset with regard to this whole matter.

There is so much to be gained from a full peace process. Recently I visited Clones Town Council with Oireachtas colleagues where one of the main issues for discussion was the Ulster Canal, a true cross-Border project that unites everyone from both sides of the Border. They want the project to go ahead, yet, as part and parcel of the Good Friday Agreement, this matter must be dealt with under the Northern Ireland Assembly and the cross-Border bodies. As a result of the suspension, the matter cannot be resolved. I have asked the relevant Minister to see if there is a way around this but to no avail. It is proof of what is being held back because of the lack of finality from the Provisional IRA, the Real IRA and the loyalist organisations. I make no apologies for naming them in the House. We cannot have one without the other. We must have complete decommissioning if this is to work.

The last British general election threw up many problems for us. It has forced the electorate into two extreme camps. Unfortunately, the middle ground of those who led the way and fully supported the Good Friday Agreement, has lost out. We are now in a new situation. Time is limited and it is not good to see people going to the extremes. The only way it can be sorted is that those with authority use it to end the violence, the criminality and disband the IRA, the UVF and all the different groups that have led this country into trouble.

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