Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the comment by the INLA some weeks ago that it has confirmed an end to its campaign of violence in Northern Ireland and that shortly it expects to begin decommissioning whatever arms it has. That is to be welcomed. There is an increasing threat, however, from dissident forces both North and South of the Border. I understand that a crime seminar organised on Monday stated that dissident Republicans posed a "severe and increasing threat". I want the Taoiseach to know that in so far as the Government takes action on this matter it will have the full support of this side of the House in supporting the forces of law and order to deal with any of those dissident threats.

My colleague, Deputy Flanagan, our spokesman on justice, recently highlighted efforts that have been made by dissidents to recruit young people in the Republic. First, does the Taoiseach have a view on the extent of the threat posed by dissident Republicans in view of the seminar on Monday at which it was stated that they posed a severe and increasing threat? Second, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who is sitting beside the Taoiseach, recently met his counterpart in Northern Ireland, Paul Goggins. Has the Minister reported to the Taoiseach on those discussions? Did they put in place a strategy to deal with an increasing threat from dissidents? Did any discussion take place about the huge increase in cross-Border criminality, mostly in the area of smuggling petrol, diesel and cigarettes?

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