Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I join with the Taoiseach and Deputy Kenny in marking the retirement of Dr. Paisley as leader of his party and First Minister. I wish him well in his retirement and pay tribute to the role he played at the end of his career in restoring political institutions to Northern Ireland and in bringing political stability to the North. However, I cannot help reflecting on the fact that many of those involved in resolving the conflict at the end, including Dr. Paisley, played no small part in fomenting the conflict over the years. This is something historians will need to examine — our job is to look forward.

In this regard and in terms of the operation of the institutions, their continuation and the continuation of progress in Northern Ireland, what are the implications of the change of leadership in the DUP and the inevitable change of First Minister? Does the Taoiseach envisage difficulties in respect of the devolution of policing and justice functions to the Northern Ireland institutions? Last weekend, the DUP stated that one of the conditions for devolution would be the winding up and dissolution of the IRA army council. Has the Taoiseach discussed this matter with Prime Minister Brown or Sinn Féin and where does he see it going?

I share Deputy Kenny's concern regarding reports of the increasing assembly of weaponry by and the increasing activity of dissident republican groups, including the Real IRA. I pay tribute to the Garda for its work in seizing weaponry from the Real IRA and those with whom it is associated. What is the Taoiseach's assessment of the shift in people from the Provisional IRA to the Real IRA and what is his assessment of the strength of the latter? I appreciate that he is constrained in responding for security reasons, but there is a concern about the organisation and the threat it may pose. There should be a response to it.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Brown, did the Taoiseach raise the issue of Sellafield?

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