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

I would not give respectability to the groups the Deputy mentioned by referring to them as dissident republicans: they are primarily criminal terrorists who have no respect of any description for the democratic will of people on both sides of this island to bring an end to violence, mayhem and destruction. They are individuals who, while waving a green flag, are deeply involved in criminality in the area of drugs, fuel laundering and extortion and are hell bent on causing death and mayhem if possible. In that context, I want to pay tribute to both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for the work they do in providing a safe community on this side of the island and to the Garda Síochána and the PSNI for the full co-operation that exists between both bodies in seeking to prevent incidents and also in investigating events that occurred such as the most recent tragic death of a prison officer in Northern Ireland.

The reorganisation of the Defence Forces was designed to ensure that we have the practical necessary numbers in the Defence Forces to deal with issues that arise such as issues of subversion in so far as the Defence Forces are engaged in that area and also to facilitate their engagement in their international duties. The reorganisation was also designed to ensure that we use resources wisely. Both the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána have the capability to continue to co-operate fully and work with each other to ensure that what is necessary is done to counteract the threat of the criminal terrorists who remain on this island.

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