Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank Members of the House who spoke in favour of renewing the provisions of the Act. I accept that in the circumstances in which Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform find themselves, they cannot divulge to other Members the precise details as to why, other than the type of details we have given in this report, which has been laid before the House. Suffice it to say that it is not just my word or that of the Garda Síochána; one only has to read the remarks of the Independent Monitoring Commission specifically answering the question Deputy Charles Flanagan raised concerning the existence of the INLA. I suggest that Deputy Ó Snodaigh should re-read the most recent report of the monitoring commission, which clearly says that these groups, including the INLA, continue to represent a substantial threat to the security of our people in this State.

I again wish to thank Deputies who have supported this motion. As I outlined in my introduction concerning the use of the provisions by the Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the DPP and the courts, given the level of activity on some, but not all, of the sections in this Act, it is right and proper that this House should resolve to renew it for another year.

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