Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The increase in activities by the groups in question in recent months is obviously a matter of concern for the Government. I know that all Members of the House will join me in condemning these groups without reserve. We should be clear that these people are no more than criminals using violent means in pursuit of their own ends. They have no support in the wider community for their criminal ends or their violent means.

The Garda Commissioner has made it clear that although these paramilitaries continue to pose a threat, as is clearly evidenced by incidents in Northern Ireland in recent months and days and the rise in the threat level in Britain, the Garda is working continually to disrupt and to foil their plans and activities. My advice from the Garda authorities is that although the numbers involved in these groups are relatively small, they have nonetheless increased their capabilities and activities in recent months. The pattern of dissident acts in recent months has been to target members of the security forces in Northern Ireland, particularly with repeated attempts on the lives of Catholic PSNI officers.

I can assure the House that the Garda continues to co-operate seamlessly with the PSNI in actively pursuing the dissidents. The Garda Commissioner has stated that he regards an attack on the PSNI as an attack on the Garda Síochána, an attitude shared by the Government. The Chief Constable of the PSNI has also referred to the excellent operational relationship between the two forces. This close level of operational co-operation has been instrumental in recent months in preventing atrocities and saving lives, and it will continue to be an essential element in bringing those criminals to book.

It is only right to record the fact that the security services in both jurisdictions have had significant successes in preventing atrocities. Since the start of this year the Garda has arrested over 50 people believed to be members of these groups and 22 are at present before the courts. Facing up to the dissident threat is a priority for the Garda Síochána and, in support of this aim, the Government has maintained a high level of resources for the force, particularly in terms of keeping to the approved numbers of operational personnel. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that he has the resources he needs at his disposal in this regard.

The Government remains committed to upholding the democratically expressed desire of the overwhelming majority of people on this island to build a future based on peace and to consign all paramilitary violence to the past. I know that this commitment will be shared by all in this House. We will continue, in co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, to spare no effort to ensure that those thugs who seek to subvert the democratic will of the people will face the full rigours of the law.

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