Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All Members agree the murder of Mr. David Black was an appalling and disgraceful atrocity. It was the sacrifice of the life of a good man for the achievement of no identifiable objective. It was done by people who have no moral compass and no insight into, or concern for, the lives of those they target or the impact on families of the horrendous loss suffered. It was a terrible event and we had hoped that we had put such events on the island behind us. I thank the Deputy for his comments because it was important that I joined the Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland, Mr. David Ford, to give a clear message of unanimity in our views and, by our stance, making it clear that the Governments, North and South, are united against the subversive elements that seek to bring us back to the bad old days of the past.

I entirely reject the suggestion made by the outgoing president of PDFORRA. I regret that he did not give greater thought to what he was saying. Unfortunately, at these events, some members of representative organisations that by and large engage constructively and behave responsibly sometimes feel the need to seek an unnecessary headline on something that is a gross misrepresentation of reality. When this Government came into office, based on the financial backdrop and the policies adopted by the previous Government, the Defence Forces were heading below 8,000 members. We stabilised the position and I succeeded in obtaining a decision from Government that the strength of the Defence Forces would be maintained at 9,500. Reorganisation was important because it was based on a strength of 11,500, which not had not been maintained at any stage during the lifetime of the previous Government. Reorganisation ensured that, in the context of the current strength of the Defence Forces, we can use them to maximum efficiency. Reorganisation can take place in a manner that ensures organisational effectiveness. Let no recalcitrant group of terrorists outside this House think that, in any way, the Defence Forces are less vigilant today than they were in the past. They have enhanced capacities because of the manner in which they are equipped and the intelligent way they go about their business. The decisions made and being implemented will substantially strengthen their capabilities and operational capacity.

I will give a quick example in the context of subversive groups and criminal gangs. Pursuant to their role in rendering aid to the civil power, the Defence Forces continue to address the problems of improvised and other ordnance disposal on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis. Wearing my hats as the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Defence, there is superb co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces when these devices are discovered. With great bravery and skill, the members of the Defence Forces neutralise them.

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