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

I share the Minister of State's revulsion and the comments he made on behalf of the Tánaiste in regard to these desperate murders. I happened to be in my office at 1 o'clock today and I listened to Tommy Gorman report from Northern Ireland. I did not think we would be back to the days when we would have to listen to a report about two murders linked to the activity of those terror groups. We need constantly to send out a very clear message that we need to be vigilant and diligent in regard to the peace process. While it does not in any way excuse violence or terrorism, there are some communities, in particular in the urban areas, which need investment in education, in upskilling their people and in jobs, but that is not easy.

I do not say that to excuse violence or terrorism in any way. As we are debating Northern Ireland today, we should be focusing on the major investment conference that takes place in Belfast tomorrow. I did not think we would have to speak about a matter of major concern like the appalling deaths of two people at the hands of so-called dissidents. The Garda Síochána and the PSNI should receive absolute and total co-operation from every right-minded person on this island as they hunt down the murderers and bring them to justice.

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