Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was pathetic to hear the group responsible use the excuse of tensions in the jail as being the cause of this murder. Tensions in the jail are not an excuse for violence, never mind the wilful taking of a life. Groups commonly referred to as dissident groups can be the incubators of violent extremism. Therefore, the activities of these and other vigilante groups must be dealt with. Such groupls have been operating in Derry where there have been more than 20 pipe bomb incidents. I share the Tánaiste's view that this issue must be dealt with on an all-island basis. The people living on this island spoke at the end of May 1998, following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. There was virtually a unanimous vote in favour of the new political structures. There are no grounds, therefore, for political or any other form of violence in this country. This message must be hammered home to such groups on all occasions.

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