Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be able to speak on this important legislation concerning terrorist offences as a member of the Oireachtas justice committee. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill is a significant piece of legislation with two primary objectives, namely, amending the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2005 in order to give effect to EU directives agreed under the Lisbon treaty and allowing Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism.

The Bill creates three new offences in respect of terrorist activity which are covered by the amending framework decision and the Council of Europe convention to which Ireland is already a signatory. These three new offences are the public provocation to commit a terrorist offence; recruitment for terrorism; and training for terrorism. The Government is committed to combating terrorism, as this legislation demonstrates. Ireland needs to legislate to be able to combat terrorism in all of its guises and that includes being able to confront, when required to do so, incitement to commit terrorist offences and recruitment and training in order to carry out terrorist activities.

Our own history demonstrates why legislating for these offences is important and should enable Ireland to look abroad to our fellow European countries and focus on combating terrorism alongside them so that the citizens of the European Union can be safe and protected. Those who would threaten the lives of ordinary people by engaging in acts of terrorism, whether on this island or elsewhere, must be brought to justice and must know that the international community will not tolerate their activity and will take all possible activity to prevent and punish it.

Although it is possible to criticise the comments I have just made, our own history must be considered when it comes to legislation such as this. We should also look to recent events, for example, in Paris where we saw the shooting of a journalist and other people, the bombings in Madrid in 2004 when a large number of people on trains were killed and others suffered, and similar bombings targeting people on public transport in London in 2007. Another event that comes to mind in all its horror, which is easily one of the most despicable acts of terrorism carried out in recent years, is the attack in 2011 against the people of Oslo and the Norwegian labour party. This comes to mind because of two copycat attempts that occurred subsequently in the Czech Republic and in Poland. This is directly relevant to the legislation that is before the House today.

While the threat level to Ireland from international terrorism is considered to be low, we must remain vigilant, particularly where the possibility of lone wolf type actions witnessed elsewhere in Europe is concerned. The random and unpredictable nature of such attacks makes them a particular matter for concern. It is important, therefore, that we have the relevant tools at our disposal to deal with terrorist threats in all their forms and at all stages, including incitement and other preparatory activities. By criminalising the terrorist linked activities of provocation, recruitment and training, the legislation further strengthens our hand in this regard. I am pleased to commend the Bill to the House.

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