Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to ask the Taoiseach a different set of questions. In respect of the violence on the streets of Dublin on 25 February, the Taoiseach commented that the word in his constituency on the previous night was that this would happen. What did the Taoiseach mean by that? Did he communicate that fear and concern to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or to any of the Garda authorities, on the basis that there might be an expected increase in the level of potential violence and that they should be ready to deal with it?

With regard to the meeting at the White House, will the Taoiseach confirm whether the Irish Ambassador beat a path to his counterparts in the White House to facilitate the invitation of the president of Sinn Féin to the function? I understand the American authorities were reluctant to do so. Were Irish officials engaged in diplomatic contacts with the White House to facilitate this?

What was the impact of the Taoiseach's discussions with President Bush with regard to the murder of Joseph Rafferty and the facilitation of his family's journey to the United States? Was the question of international terrorism discussed at the Taoiseach's private meeting with President Bush? Last night, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform reaffirmed that the IRA was to sell its expertise in bomb-making to FARC for between €20 million and €30 million. The Minister stated that it would be used for electioneering purposes in the next election. The Government made consular assistance available to the people known as the Colombia Three, sent a representative to their trial and posted bail. Did the President raise with the Taoiseach this apparent contradiction on the part of the Government? In other words, while the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has stated that the IRA was in the business of raising €20 million to €30 million for electioneering purposes in this State, the Government seemed to state implicitly that nothing was wrong. Did President Bush raise this issue at his private meeting with the Taoiseach in respect of international terrorism?

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