Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Furthermore the legitimacy conferred by a UN mission bolsters the safety and security of our Defence Forces when they participate in peacekeeping missions. No mission will be without risk but the absence of the blue hat will heighten the risk.

We must continue to be vigilant with regard to the latent threat that the State faces from the various paramilitary elements still active on the island whether overt, covert or pseudo-political. The same applies to the dissident threat both North and South of the Border. While ongoing intelligence suggests no immediate threat, we must at all times retain the capacity to deal with one. Terrorism is a world-wide reality which needs a comprehensive response.

The Defence Forces have a very small role in intelligence-gathering and this should be developed. The Army Ranger Wing with its professionalism, expertise and elite skills, should be nurtured so as to have a highly skilled asset as a support to the Garda. We should be prepared to meet this threat at home and abroad. There should be a more proactive approach to intelligence-gathering and threat analysis in the communities and localities of military installations. This should be complemented by continuous assessment and review of security measures at military installations.

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