Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Calleary for his considered response to and support for the motion. There remains a substantial threat from terrorist activity and particularly from so-called dissident republican paramilitary groups which warrants the continuing in force of the Act's provisions. This House needs to send out the clear message that the State will not bow to the self-serving interests of terrorists who continue to see themselves as being entitled to destroy a peace process that is working and has made the lives of so many people on this island so much better.

The Deputy asked about the provision of resources to An Garda Síochána. I repeat what I have said on many occasions in the past. The Garda will continue to take whatever action is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks and bring those engaged in terrorist activities to justice before the courts. It will continue to co-operate fully with the PSNI in its work. It is appropriate to congratulate the Garda and PSNI on the work they have done in the past 12 months in preventing some atrocities that would have occurred without the very good work undertaken by both policing organisations on this island, which work so well in co-operation with each other.

I listened with some interest to what Deputy O'Brien had to say with regard to human rights and with some bemusement to what Deputies Higgins and Boyd Barrett had to say. They appear more concerned with the rights of those intent on destroying the peace process and committed to continued violence and atrocities than the rights of ordinary individuals who want to go about their lives on the island. The greatest right is the right to live in peace-----

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