Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I join the Taoiseach and Deputy Burton in expressing the sympathy of the House towards the families of those who lost their lives in the inferno in Omagh. I am sure the neighbours who heard the screams of those children will be haunted forever. It goes through you when you see the picture in today's newspaper.

The remarks by the Taoiseach shortly after the murder of Paul Quinn disassociated the provisional movement from that crime. Will the Taoiseach comment on the remark by a member of the IMC that this murder was committed by present or former members of the IRA or their associates? Will he comment on the fact that those who committed that murder were dressed in boiler suits and surgical gloves, which was the trademark of IRA punishment squads?

In respect of the shooting of a PSNI officer in Dungannon, does the Taoiseach feel there is a movement to return to this sort of activity among dissident republicans? Does he have any information to that effect? For everybody's sake, we do not want a drift back towards such actions on any side. I support the remarks of Deputy Burton about Margaret Ritchie. Her decision was the correct one and it took courage to carry out. I am glad the Taoiseach has reiterated that in the Government's view, this was the right thing to do.

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