Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

utterly condemns the murders of Sapper Mark Quinsey and Sapper Cengiz Azimkar in Antrim, and of Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon, as well as the injuries inflicted on others in those attacks;

expresses its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of the dead and injured;

affirms that the groups responsible for these atrocities have no mandate or support whatsoever from the Irish people;

reaffirms its unequivocal support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána in their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of these evil crimes and to combat the groups who organised them;

stands united together with the Irish and British Governments, the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the members of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, democratic representatives and all the people of this island, and friends of Ireland around the world, in full support of the democratic institutions and in absolute opposition to violent attempts to undermine the peace process; and

resolves to remain steadfast in upholding the democratic will of the people to live together in peace.

I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on the current situation in Northern Ireland. It is important that the voices of the democratic representatives of the people are heard loud and clear at a time when the democratic institutions which have been established by the Irish people are being challenged by a tiny and unrepresentative group of evil people who have no mandate and no support for their actions. Those actions are futile and tragic. The people to whom I refer cannot and will not succeed. This debate, and those taking place in other democratic assemblies, makes that abundantly clear.

On behalf of the Government and all Members of the House, I express our sympathies to the families of those who were killed and injured in the recent attacks. I send my deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Sapper Mark Quinsey, Sapper Cengiz Azimkar and Officer Stephen Carroll. This week, there are grieving families in Birmingham, London and Banbridge. There are deeply traumatised communities in Antrim and Craigavon, which have once more seen evil rise in their midst. They are all in our thoughts and prayers.

I also send my best wishes to those who were injured in the attacks, including a young teenager from Antrim and a man who came to these shores from Poland to make a better life for himself and who now lies critically injured in hospital. We pray for their speedy recovery and offer our support to their families and friends at this difficult time.

We had hoped to never again witness events such as those that occurred this week. The murder scenes, the increased security and the grief of those who have lost a loved one to mindless violence conjure up images of a dark past we thought we had put behind us. We are absolutely determined to ensure that there will be no going back. I assure the House that, despite all of the successes of the peace process, the Government and the Garda Síochána have continued to commit significant resources to the fight against the dissident groups. The Garda has had many successes in this work. As the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, stated, the work of the Garda in this area has saved lives. The work of the Garda will continue and will be intensified in order that justice will be done and that this evil will be rooted out from Irish society, North and South.

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his security Minister at Hillsborough last night. They reviewed the latest situation and ensured a continuance of the closest possible political and security co-operation between the two Governments and our law enforcement agencies. The Garda Commissioner will meet the Chief Constable of the PSNI tomorrow. Co-operation between the police forces on this island has never been closer. They are working hand in glove to apprehend the killers and to combat the organisations who planned these murders.

The unity of this House is mirrored by a unity within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between Britain and Ireland. In recent days, I had discussions with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. My ministerial colleagues are in ongoing contact with their counterparts in the British Government. We are also in touch with all of the political parties and all of our friends across the community in Northern Ireland. Everybody is absolutely united.

The people and all of their democratic representatives reject this violence. We will overcome the evil and unrepresentative minority that wants to drag us back to the past. If anyone doubts our unity or our resolve, they should listen to the debate in this House and that taking place in the Northern Ireland Assembly. If anyone thinks that Northern Ireland has not changed, they should examine pictures taken yesterday of the First and Deputy First Ministers with the Chief Constable of the PSNI. If anyone hopes to drag us back to a time of hatred and division, they should hear the clear message given by the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. It was a message of hope and determination and also one of support for our democratic institutions and for the forces of law and order. It was proof, if such were needed, that we are not going back to the bad old days.

In recent days, the eyes of the world have once more turned towards our small island. They have seen images that may have seemed drearily familiar. However, they also seen something else, namely, an unprecedented coming together of all of the traditions on this island and all of the people of this country. Furthermore, they have seen an island resolved to be reconciled, not divided.

In the words of the motion before the House, we stand "united together with the Irish and British Governments, the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, the members of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, democratic representatives and all the people of this island, and friends of Ireland around the world". We also stand in support of the democratic institutions and in absolute opposition to violent attempts to undermine the peace process.

Next week, the eyes of the world will once again be upon us as we celebrate our national day. I will be in America with the First and Deputy First Ministers and we will once more give that united message of peace and resolve in the face of this threat.

I reiterate the words of the motion that this House will pass today. Those words speak more loudly than any act of mindless violence. The Irish people are united. Our peace process and our democracy are unshakeable. I commend this motion to the House.

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