Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The question of the Parades Commission is obviously a sensitive one. There were discussions for years about having that matter taken out of the realm of the police and politics. For all its faults, the commission brought a degree of commonsense and pragmatism to the parades issue. I hope that whatever compromise is to be arrived at can be reached in that regard.

Given the economic challenges our country faces, we should be acutely aware and vigilant about the recruitment drive now going on for dissident republicans. The Tánaiste is well aware of the catastrophic implications of at least three 600-lb. bombs that were placed in various locations in the North. Those plans were disrupted by good contacts between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána. I am happy to agree with the comments that the level of co-operation and intelligence sharing between both police forces is at an all-time high. That is as it should be.

With regard to comments made this morning by the Garda Commissioner in respect of Garda facilities, these obviously could be improved. I suggest to the Tánaiste that this matter must be brought to the highest level, not just to Secretary of State level, but to Prime Minister level. This is not an issue with which one can fool around. At a time of economic depression here, where emigration is back on the agenda and hundreds of thousands of young people face unemployment, this country is ripe feeding ground for dissidents who have no other ambition or aim but to disrupt normal life on this island. I offer the Tánaiste and the Government the fullest support possible in dealing with intelligence and vigilance and a diversion from that kind of activity by recruitment into work and through the creation of employment. This is the answer to much of that. I would like the Tánaiste to take seriously the fact that we are acutely aware of just how disruptive this activity is for the reputation of this island, lives on this island and the economic prosperity of all our peoples. It is imperative that recruitment among dissident republicans, which is ongoing as we speak, is thwarted and dealt with in the way it should be by the forces of law and order and by common sense from Government. I would like the Tánaiste to convey this message to the Taoiseach.

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