Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I remember well 27 August 1979 when the assassination of Lord Mountbatten took place and 18 British soldiers were killed by two IRA landmines at Warrenpoint, County Down. I also recall the arrest of several people involved in the Mullaghmore bomb by Garda James Lohan at Granard later that day.

The situation has moved on greatly in that time and everyone is pleased with developments over the past number of years. Is the Taoiseach concerned, however, about the resurrection of dissident republicans? The bomb in Newry yesterday was potentially catastrophic for the ongoing peace discussions on the Hillsborough Castle Agreement. I have raised this matter with the Taoiseach over the past several months. Is he happy with the level of co-operation that exists between the Garda and the PSNI, which I understand is at a very high level? Has he been briefed on the extent of recruitment of young and vulnerable males, in particular, in this jurisdiction to join the dissident republican movement? Is he in possession of information from the security and intelligence forces that will allow the Garda and the PSNI to work together to put an end to this?

I note in 1979 that the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, contemplated sanctions against Irish people living in Britain, such as withdrawing their opportunity to vote in British elections, if there was not greater co-operation between the security forces. In the end, they were never proceeded with but, given that this was considered over 30 years ago, does the Taoiseach have a view on the use of Irish passports in an assassination in the United Arab Emirates a week ago? Has the Taoiseach been fully briefed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs? Is the Minister happy that the Israeli Government was not involved in this? Has the Taoiseach been briefed on the ongoing security measures that can be taken for protecting passports?

I must add for the benefit of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is sitting next to the Taoiseach that this does arise in a question on the National Archives. We learn lessons from the past, as I am sure he does too.

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