Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

It is not necessary either to suggest that this legislation is motivated by anti-republicanism. This State is a Republic and has been valued as such since 1937 in the dictionary sense and since 1948 in a statutory sense. We do not need that kind of comment on this legislation. We are going back over old wounds and I appreciate that, but the important point is that in any jurisdiction nobody sees this type of legislation as ideal and in an ideal world there would not be a need for it. As long as there are groups and individuals who are bent on usurping the democratic institutions of this jurisdiction the State and its institutions must have the means at its disposal to protect itself. Of course we would all like to see unlawful organisations wither away and then, please God, this legislation would wither away with them. As I said in my opening remarks, we are confronted also by international terrorism. Europe learned a hard lesson on 11 March 2004 when 200 innocent commuters going about their daily business were murdered and many hundreds injured. The 2005 legislation deals with that international terrorist threat.

The ongoing threats from the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA are outlined in the Independent Monitoring Commission's reports and Members can see what is proposed. In regard to the Good Friday Agreement, following the elections in Northern Ireland and Britain renewed efforts are being made to overcome the well-known obstacles to progress. Both Governments are anxious to make headway with the ultimate goal of promoting full implementation of the Agreement.

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