Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Before I ask a number of questions, I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, well in the new role to which she has been appointed. I note that the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, has withstood the pressure that was reportedly put on her to stand aside. I wish the Ministers of State well in the 12 months, or less, which remain before the next general election.

I have read the report of the International Monitoring Commission, which identifies some movement in the right direction. It is obvious, however, that it falls far short of where we should be if Sinn Féin is to be truly respected as a fully democratic party. I was somewhat dismayed by the Government's reaction to the IMC's serious finding that continuing IRA involvement in criminal activity and intelligence gathering is taking place in the Twenty-six Counties, despite its specific commitment last July that such activities were to cease immediately. It is simply unacceptable, in a democratic society, that the IRA can maintain its structures, continue its spying activities for political purposes and maintain its involvement in criminal fund-raising.

I remind the Taoiseach of his response to comments made by the Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI, Mr. Sam Kincaid, on 18 January last. The Taoiseach dismissed Mr. Kincaid's view that the IRA is still involved in organised crime, claiming that the Chief Constable of the PSNI, Mr. Hugh Orde, had expressed to him "a different view" to that expressed by Mr. Kincaid. Did that response not prompt a statement from Mr. Orde that he and the Taoiseach had not discussed this issue? Did Mr. Orde not state that he backed Mr. Kincaid fully? Did Mr. Orde not claim that the view held by Mr. Kincaid and him had been vindicated and confirmed by the IMC? Can the Taoiseach explain why his comment directly contradicted that of Mr. Kincaid? Is it not the case that Mr. Orde issued a statement backing Mr. Kincaid fully, even though the Taoiseach had said that Mr. Orde had given him "a different view"?

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