Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Two matters arise from the Taoiseach's reply. First, the Taoiseach referred to the discussions on the proposed arrangements for the establishment of a permanent secretariat of the British-Irish Council. Where is it intended that such a secretariat will be located? What is the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the establishment of such a secretariat?

Second, the Taoiseach mentioned the atrocities that occurred in Northern Ireland a couple of weeks ago. I agree that the unity of reaction that was evident during the discussion in this House was remarkable. Such unity of purpose was also a feature of the Northern Ireland parties' responses to the two atrocities. Can the Taoiseach tell the House anything further about the information available to him on the extent of the possible threat from dissident republican organisations? What is the extent of the connection between such organisations and organised gun crime, for example in this State? To what extent do dissident republicans have connections with criminal gangs? Is the kind of information that led Sir Hugh Orde to issue a warning before the recent atrocities available to the Garda Síochána? Before the atrocities occurred in Northern Ireland earlier this month, Sir Hugh Orde had warned that dissident groups were active again and were likely to do serious damage. Can the Taoiseach tell the House whether the groups have acquired additional bomb-making capabilities in recent times? Have they armed themselves with additional equipment? What is the assessment of their potential threat to political institutions and, more particularly, the security forces in the North and the South?

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