Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is perfectly obvious that cross-Border unity has been displayed since the murders of British soldiers, Mark Quinsey and Patrick Asimkar, and subsequent murder by the Continuity IRA of PSNI officer, Stephen Carroll. The Taoiseach will be aware of the Garda Commissioner's statement in January that the threat from dissident republicans should not be underestimated and is a cause for concern for both the Garda Síochána and the PSNI. He will also be aware that these groups have been engaged in extortion and serious gun crime. Many of the pipe bombs in the Republic last year were INLA related. I understand that in 2008 there were 106 incidents involving pipe bombs, grenades and other improvised devices in Dublin alone, an increase of 340% since 2007 when there were 24 such incidents. From speaking to people who know something about this issue, there should be a real concern about the recruitment into dissident republican groups of vulnerable young men who are led by some daft, romantic notion that this is the thing to do.

It is necessary for the political process to ensure the Good Friday Agreement is implemented in full and we fully support the Government in its actions in this respect. It is only in this way, when people understand and see co-operation and the peace process being implemented properly, that communities can live their lives as they should. The resources needed to deal with this issue must be given to the security forces, that is, the Garda Síochána on this side of the Border and the PSNI on the other side of the Border.

Based on the reports given to him by the Garda and possibly the Army, what is the Taoiseach's current assessment of the threat posed by dissident republicans? What additional steps have been taken since the murders at Massereene Barracks to increase monitoring activities along the Border in view of the activities taking place there? Does the Taoiseach have information as to whether or to what extent republican groups are actively recruiting?

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