Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Government for making time available for statements on the murder of Paul Quinn. I pay tribute to the Christian courage shown by Stephen and Briege Quinn since the loss of their son. I recently met Mr. and Mrs. Quinn in Castleblayney. Briege Quinn was the first person to say there should be no retaliation for the loss of her son because her wish was to see justice for everybody. I admire her courage in that regard.

The murder of Robert McCartney in Belfast was a spontaneous eruption of violence inside and outside a public house after an incident but the murder of Paul Quinn was an act of premeditated and organised savagery in which a young man was beaten to death. In many localities in south Armagh and across a wide belt in the region, certain people demand respect and recognition. They know who was involved in this murder and who gave the instructions and ordered that people were to be on watch when the late Paul Quinn arrived in the farmyard in question.

This is a litmus test for the peace process. We cannot have a situation whereby people are afraid to whisper or speak out because the peace process might unravel. A peace process cannot continue if it delivers bad justice. If a just society cannot connect to a peace process through communities, that process will not stand the test of time. A just society does not exist in this instance. It is wrong that people with a conscience fear the structures may intimidate or bully them if they speak out.

The late Paul Quinn was entitled to have his good name and integrity protected by the peace process. I regret the quick response from the Government suggesting that criminal elements may have been involved. As I told Stephen and Briege Quinn, I and the party that I lead never regarded the late Paul Quinn as a criminal. It is important that all parties make that statement so as to bring some consolation to his family. I accept that the Government has confirmed that position in a meeting with his parents.

The reports of the Garda and the PSNI clearly indicate that persons who were or are members of the Provisional IRA were responsible for this murder, which gives rise to the question of authorisation. This element of plausible denial cannot be allowed to continue. The essential problem is the continued existence of the structures of the IRA, which the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform confirmed on 30 January. That structure, which exists against the background of a peace process agreed by everybody, uses fear, intimidation and bullying to ensure good people will not speak out. If there is to be any legacy for a fine young man like Paul Quinn or the peace process, it should be the complete disbandment of the IRA. The Minister noted that the Provisional IRA has been on ceasefire since 1997 and is not currently involved in terrorist or criminal activity. I respect the efforts made in respect of decommissioning but the situation of plausible denial cannot be allowed to continue. A person arranged for a so-called punishment beating to be carried out. People were instructed to be in situ and a young man was murdered. One does not use surgical gloves, balaclavas, boiler suits and iron bars unless premeditated savagery and murder are involved.

If good people do not speak out, the peace process will be seriously challenged. I admire the courage and Christian generosity of the Quinn family in dealing with their enormous loss. If there is to be a legacy for Paul Quinn and the other 3,000 lives lost in the Troubles, the peace process cannot be made to stand over bad justice. Those involved should declare that the IRA is finally disbanded so that fear, intimidation and bullying can be removed from a swathe of countryside.

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