Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I know what I and Deputy Kenny had to say in regard to this most recent incident and all the activities, if one could call them that, of dissidents is shared by all Members. They have no support in the community, they defy the settled will of the Irish people, North and South, as expressed in the adoption of the Good Friday Agreement, and they have no democratic mandate whatever. Whatever they seek to undertake is in the face of total opposition by the Irish people.

It is important to say that it is against that background that we speak about this issue. It is also against the background of an unprecedented level of security co-operation on these islands in regard to these matters. I very much welcome the comments made by many in the North about the need for these people to desist from what they are doing and confirming that the full rigours of the law will be applied to them in respect of ongoing investigations into these incidents.

It is important to comment and condemn in an unambiguous way and for the professional services involved to assess the security threat these people represent and for it to be dealt with it on an ongoing basis which is being done very successfully in many respects. Unfortunately, as has been said, there have been some instances where they have succeeded - that is not a word I like to use - or have been able to complete their efforts to engage in wanton acts of violence, destroy property and undermine the democratic institutions which have been agreed to by the people of this country.

We should not give them the oxygen of publicity to the extent that they get it into their heads that, in some way, they will overcome the security forces or that they will, in any way, be regarded by us as legitimate or mentioned in way which might in some perverse way encourage continuance of such activity.

The dissident threat has remained with us and the summer saw an increase in incidents with the targeting of individual PSNI officers and a spate of bomb attacks. The attempt by these small groups to disrupt the democratic process will not be allowed to succeed. The ongoing co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI will remain critical in this context.

On Friday the UK published for the first time a separate threat assessment in regard to Britain raising it from moderate to substantial. Obviously, that is a matter for it. However, what we should not lose sight of is the fact that threat level in the North remains at the higher level of severe. This reflects the fact that the focus of these groups so far has been on attacks in the North. While these groups may aspire to launch attacks elsewhere and in Britain, the more severe risk is in the North.

One way or another, we continue in our determination to take all measures open to us to counteract these activities. That needs to be said. I assure the House that the Garda Commissioner and the chief constable of the PSNI are working closely on all these matters across a range of security issues. It would not be helpful to say any more than that. Should there be any requirement for me to engage with the Deputy beyond our normal engagement in the House, that will be forthcoming but what I have said should provide sufficient reassurance to us all that people are doing all they can to deal with these issues. Clearly, the way in which they do that is a matter for the police and the security services to continue but I would say that the co-operation is full and unprecedented.

Deputy Kenny raised a number of other matters. On the establishment of the North-South parliamentary body, that is a matter between the Oireachtas and the Assembly. I welcome the approach and the work that has been undertaken by the Speaker and by the Ceann Comhairle, who have an excellent personal relationship. This is a matter that should not be dealt with by the Executives. This is a parliamentary matter. We all accept and understand that it is part of the architecture of the Agreement. We want to see it established as quickly as possible. People are acting in good faith and significant progress is being made. The meeting over the next two days in Newcastle is a significant development and we should allow that take its course on the basis that we would all like to see it established as quickly as possible.

Regarding the North-South Ministerial Council, that is a forum in which many issues are discussed both formally and informally. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a review of the work agenda of the council. I believe we need to move on to a more expansive agenda. There is a lot of potential for mutual benefit and in consistency with the Agreement that can and should be undertaken. We continue to make that point to our partners and we hope that, internally, the Executive can come forward with a review process that can be completed and allow us proceed.

All of us would recognise the value of the work that is done bilaterally between Ministers in the structured formats that have been agreed and also that much progress has been made outside the structured format in addition to it. That is not to suggest that the structured format should be dissipated or withdrawn. The contrary is the case. It should be intensified and widened because we need structures in place, as envisaged by the Agreement also, and those were seen to be evolutionary rather than comprehensive at the time.

Regarding corporation tax issues, the Minister for Finance has not had any detailed discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that matter. As the Deputy is aware, we have been positively disposed towards any issue that will assist the all-Ireland economy in any way possible.

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