Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Government for accepting the suggestion I made yesterday that the House should pass an all-party motion condemning the recent murders and that a clear message should be sent out on behalf of every Member that this kind of heinous crime will not be tolerated on the island of Ireland. I wish to acknowledge the presence of the British ambassador in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. I thank the Taoiseach for agreeing to this debate and I congratulate him on the positive way in which the Government approached the preparation of the motion before the House.

I am sure Members share my sense of revulsion at the cowardly murders of three members of the security forces in Northern Ireland in recent days. Our thoughts and sympathies should rightly be with the families of the victims — Officer Stephen Carroll of the PSNI, Sapper Mark Quinsey and Sapper Cengiz Azimkar. It is horrific to think that certain persons were given an instruction to deliberately assassinate members of the security forces who were going about their legitimate duties. As stated yesterday, the predetermined nature of these murders indicates that they were carried out by very evil people with warped minds. Those who carried out these atrocities have absolutely no mandate for their actions. They clearly and openly defy the expressed will, through the ballot box, of the people of Ireland, North and South, to leave violence in the past and to live together in peace. In their actions they attempt to threaten the democratic process itself, and this cannot and will not be tolerated. These activities have no place in this country.

These are testing times for the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. I commend the leaders of the parties in the North on their firm and composed response to these murders. I welcome the response of the representatives of the loyalist paramilitary groups, who said they do not intend to take retaliatory action. I also welcome the meeting today between the Ulster Political Research Group and the Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Hartley. These developments represent a new maturity in the relationship between the representatives of the communities and send a signal to their respective constituencies that their leaders are committed to working together for the betterment of all the people and communities of Northern Ireland. I acknowledge the strong and clear stance taken by the Sinn Féin leadership and, in particular, by Mr. Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister, who have demonstrated their party's adherence to its decision to leave the armed struggle in the past. I also acknowledge Deputy Ó Caoláin's consistent remarks in this regard.

I urge all parties to continue to appeal to their supporters to co-operate fully with the police investigations in order that those responsible can be brought to justice and suffer the full rigours of the law. I urge the Garda Síochána and the security and intelligence forces in this jurisdiction to provide every possible assistance to the investigation so there can be no suggestion that any of those involved in these murders can hope for refuge in this State.

I have raised with the Taoiseach for some time the growing threat posed by dissident groups. The recent decision of the PSNI Chief Constable to bring in outside assistance from MI5 was a clear signal from him of the increased risk of attacks of this nature. The media reports today that a large bomb has been prepared by the Real IRA for an attack in Britain underline the need for a strong security response. The murders are appalling but this business of preparing bombs for use in Britain just cannot be contemplated. I hope the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Defence will not hesitate to use their respective security and intelligence services in ensuring justice is done as quickly as possible.

I am also concerned about reports that the Real IRA is actively recruiting new members from this jurisdiction. This was brought to my attention yesterday. It is essential to ensure that young men, vulnerable in many respects, are not lured into these organisations by some romantic notion of Irish republicanism and the continuation of an armed struggle. To achieve this we must continue to highlight in any way we can the necessity of implementing in full the Good Friday Agreement in order that people will understand and see that co-operation and power sharing are the way forward. We must ensure that it is considered both the normal and effective way of delivering for everybody. We must also ensure our security forces have the necessary resources to monitor the activities of the dissident groups in this State. A concentrated effort to disrupt their recruitment methods and other activities will prevent other atrocities being carried out.

Fine Gael, as always, stands ready to support the forces of law and order in confronting this threat. As I said yesterday, while there are many issues that divide the Government and Opposition, the Taoiseach can rest assured that in dealing with this matter and on his journey to America next week, he will have the full support of this party in respect of whatever action the Government must take. I am pleased to support the motion before the House as it represents a clear and unequivocal statement of democratic Ireland's rejection of these attempts to plunge this island back into dark days of conflict, mayhem and murder.

In this month, the eyes of the world will be on our country, as we prepare for our national day. Ireland is one of the few countries that has a national day. I hope that in passing this motion the Dáil is strengthening the message that the Taoiseach and Ministers need to deliver in the course of their international duties, which is that all the people of Ireland want to live in a country of peace, harmony, unity and strengthened resolve to build on the potential of the Good Friday Agreement, which so many people through so many walks of life for so many years worked so hard to implement.

See this speech in context