Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleagues for their contributions. It is fitting that we discuss the killing of Paul Quinn in this House. This was a well planned and brutally executed killing. It is gratifying, though not unexpected, that the House should generally have spoken with one voice on this matter. I hope the Quinn family can take some small comfort from the expressions of sympathy and support from all sides during the debate.

I add my voice to those calling for witnesses to come forward. The importance of this cannot be overestimated. I thank my colleagues who have joined in appealing again for assistance from people in the local area. As the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, made clear in this opening statement, there is no information available to the Garda that there was an organisational involvement by the Provisional movement in the killing. However, as has been stated by Members in this House and others outside the House, there are suspicions that people with connections to that movement were involved.

We must be cautious about discussing the detail of what is an ongoing investigation. I am anxious that nothing should be said that would jeopardise the chances of successful convictions. We have made clear time and again that criminality of any type will not be tolerated from any group, North or South. In this regard, the Minister welcomes the condemnation of this crime by Members on all sides of the House as well as the various public statements that anyone who has information on this crime should pass it to the Garda or the PSNI.

The Minister spoke of a new optimism in regard to Northern Ireland. This optimism is born of the hard work of people across the political spectrum who were willing to look to the future rather than focus on the past. The next great challenge for Northern Ireland is the successful devolution of policing and justice responsibilities to the Assembly. The timing of this next step is ultimately a matter for the Assembly itself. The Government hopes the May deadline set out in the St. Andrews Agreement will be adhered to. The Minister looks forward to working with his Northern Ireland equivalent to strengthen further the type of co-operation already evidenced by the investigation into Paul Quinn's killing.

As the Minister mentioned in his opening remarks, the Taoiseach spoke with Paul's mother and father at a meeting before Christmas. He reassured them that it was never his intention, in anything he said in response to questions about any wider implications that this case may have, to make an issue of Paul's character. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn accepted the Taoiseach's assurances. I do not believe it is particularly helpful to seek to score points against the Taoiseach in relation to such a horrific incident. I and the Government have no problem stating categorically that the murder of Paul Quinn was not related in any way to any involvement of by him in criminal activities. It is no secret that arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland, there are small pockets in Northern Ireland where there has been a lack of real policing in the past. That vacuum was often filled by others to the detriment of all. I am glad this is now changing. The people are saying that those who seek to take advantage of that vacuum are not wanted under any circumstances and I advise them to take heed. I note with satisfaction the call from the Deputies in this regard. The days of no go areas are finished.

As the Minister said, anyone with information relevant to this crime should be encouraged to give it to the Garda or the PSNI. I welcome calls from others in the House for people to co-operate with the Garda and the PSNI. Achieving justice in this case is fundamentally a matter for the criminal justice system and I am sure all Members will join with me in offering full support to the Garda and the PSNI.

Deputies Kenny and McManus said there are people in the area of south Armagh who know who planned and carried out this murder. I accept this to be the case and I respect what the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and others have said. Anyone with information should bring it to the police. This type of co-operation is essential to success in this case. I again urge witnesses and anyone with relevant information to go to the police with it. Let us stand against the murders and with the Quinn family. In common with all Members I hope we can all look forward to the time when those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice.

I thank my colleagues for spending this small amount of time remembering a young man whose life was cruelly and prematurely taken away.

See this speech in context