Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I can only convey to Deputy Kenny the information I have been given and continue to be given by the Garda and the PSNI. The Garda has advised that there is no information available to suggest that the attack was authorised or carried out by or on behalf of any paramilitary grouping. That is also, I understand, the position of the Chief Constable of the PSNI. I cannot say what some of these people might have been involved or associated with in the past. I have read reports of this, but I can only deal with the present situation.

The IMC has not reported formally on the murder of Paul Quinn. It has a process for doing that. It is open to it to set out its assessment of the matter in light of the information available in its next formal report to the Government. I am aware of the comments made at a press conference yesterday to the effect that the people who carried out this terrible act, whatever their past history, must be found and charged in accordance with the rule of law. That is what all decent people want to see. There is a dedicated and focused effort being made by the Garda, in conjunction with the PSNI, to ensure that this is done. The Garda has gone beyond the call of duty on this case as its detective units are operating very intensely in the Border areas, which I support.

I cannot tell Deputy Kenny any more than that I am concerned about three dissident groups currently operating in Northern Ireland on what would be considered to be the republican side, if we can give it that name, which I do not particularly want to. There is the Continuity IRA, the Real IRA and a new grouping that calls itself Óglaigh na hÉireann. All three of these have the capacity to cause trouble and two of them are certainly involved in the present troubles. They are small groups which do not contain any prominent people from the past but consist of a younger generation.

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