Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for that. These shots that took away the lives of people on our island have reverberated around the world sending a message of uncertainty and confusion. That is why it is important that this institution and its counterpart in Northern Ireland stand firm on this, that we reject those messages of confusion and uncertainty and that we stand absolutely behind the peace process so painstakingly put together by so many people and being implemented for the past ten years. The pictures in today's newspapers of the little children looking back at the flowers are such as we have not seen anywhere on this island for quite some time, and thought we might never see again.

In the questions we have had here over recent months we have discussed this activity of dissident republican groups and the Taoiseach is aware of the Chief Constable's decision to bring in extra expertise, as he saw it, to deal with analysis of and investigation into happenings in Northern Ireland. Have our security forces, the Garda, specialist units or military personnel, received any information about developments from republican dissident groups, whether Continuity IRA or Real IRA? Has the Taoiseach been briefed by his own sources on the extent of recruitment by the Continuity IRA or Real IRA that has been going on in our jurisdiction? Has he any information on that? Has the Taoiseach spoken to the Garda Commissioner and the Chief of Staff about making available whatever they consider necessary for our security forces to deal with that element of recruitment or activity from either of these or any other dissident republican group that might be active in plotting activities such as those that have resulted in these tragic cases? The Independent Monitoring Commission made a number of observations on this and I wonder if the Taoiseach has been brought up to date by the security chiefs on what level of activity has been ongoing in this jurisdiction.

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