Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)

We discussed this issue last year in the context of the requirement on the Minister to bring before the House every 12 months a resolution for continuance of certain sections of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, at which time Sinn Féin put on record its opposition to the provisions contained within that Act and the then proposed resolution.

In outlining his reasons for continuance of these provisions, the Minister referred to dissident activity. Sinn Féin has clearly stated that those groups involved in that type of activity should cease that activity. They need to join the peace process. It is incumbent on all of us to encourage these groups to embrace the democratic process. The Minister has referred in the past to upholding and implementing in full the Good Friday Agreement because it is the democratic wish of the Irish people. There is an onus on us to do so and as part of this there is a responsibility to bring about as quickly as possible the normalisation of policing and justice on the island of Ireland.

There is no argument for the retention of these Acts. This is draconian legislation and we have said so in the past. This is not only our view. It might be a lonely view in the Chamber, but outside it various human rights organisations have criticised the provisions the Minister proposes to renew. According to the Minister's report only ten convictions have been secured in the courts despite the fact that 610 people have been arrested under these provisions. According to the table provided by the Minister, four sections have not been used for many years and one section has not been used for ten years. This is an indication the provisions have more to do with information gathering, but this is not the purpose for which they were originally brought before the House. We need to review and repeal them and I urge Deputies to vote against the proposal.

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