Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I wish to express my sincere condolences to the family of Ronan Kerr. This is a great tragedy for the Kerr family and for the people of Northern Ireland. I want to state clearly that the majority of the people along the Border do not share the views of the people who carried out this act. It achieves nothing. It does not bring a united Ireland one day closer. It was a futile act.

I know that Ronan spent some of his childhood visiting his relatives in County Monaghan. Along with Border people I was in Beragh yesterday evening. What has happened is a disgrace. I hope if one thing is learned from this it is the futility of what has happened. We can never go back to the days of the past when these events happened on a regular basis. It serves no purpose. Nobody wants it.

I express my sympathy on behalf of my constituents and the people of County Monaghan on the death of Ronan.

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