Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the first matter Deputy Hayes raised, namely, the British Irish Council, issues arising from its meetings are dealt with through parliamentary questions, as now. Members may be of the opinion that a formal debate from time to time would help to improve the visibility of that work or perhaps a more structured approach within the committee system. There are a number of options which the Whips could consider to see how we could keep the agenda active.

I welcome the widest possible participation by the Oireachtas in these matters because they are an important part of the architecture of the Agreement. It is important that everybody gives them the attention they deserve and that we are seen to be participants in all aspects of the work of the institutions in so far as it refers and relates to us and that we are not selective in any way. These are matters that can be considered in due course in terms of what is the best way to go about it.

On the second issue raised by the Deputy, I do not think it is right to say that a new, young leadership has taken over these factions and that they are any more determined than those who preceded them. In the main, those active in these organisations are people who would have knowledge of terrorist activity in the past. While they have broken away from other organisations at various times and it is obvious that recruitment efforts are being made and some people may well be inveigled into joining such organisations now in an effort to find people who do not have a previous record — I will not put it stronger than that — because this might be beneficial to them in their efforts to maintain activity of this kind, the leadership or the direction of these organisations remain in the hands of those who have had experience in this matter in the past. This is my considered view in so far as I am aware of the situation.

We only deal with people on the basis of commitment to a process of peace and democracy and the involvement of these people in the activities in which they are engaged is a very clear statement of their evil intent. The fact that they are not part of this process is obvious for all to see.

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