Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Lisbon treaty was a lengthy and complicated process, particularly in this country. The treaty is a lengthy document with a series of protocols attached to it. One is Protocol No. 21 which deals specifically with entitlements that Ireland and the United Kingdom have with respect to certain issues concerning justice and home affairs. It shows how on matters of justice and home affairs in Europe, Ireland and the United Kingdom shared many views, partly because we are both common law jurisdictions.

Article 3 of Protocol No. 21 provided that Ireland and the United Kingdom could opt out of certain issues and provisions in respect of justice and home affairs. Subsequently, within the Irish legal process, we determined that if we wanted to be part of European Union justice and home affairs issues, there would have to be a vote of the Oireachtas. It shows that there is still democracy within the European project. Sometimes people complain that decisions are made by European bureaucrats in Brussels but at least here elected representatives have the opportunity to vote on the issue. The issue before us here is whether we should opt in to the regulation regarding an internal security fund. The name might be frightening to some, but it should not be. Fianna Fáil will support the proposal that we opt in to the process.

The fund is designed to deal with issues concerning terrorism and organised crime. Some may believe that some causes of terrorism relate to policies carried out by European Union countries themselves, and they may be correct in that, but that does not make anyone entitled to take another person's life. It does not give any organisation the authority to state it represents a political movement and as part of that, will attack or kill people. For many years, this country saw how senseless that ideology was. Some people still think that this ideology is appropriate to secure the reunification of the national territory but it is not. To launch a campaign of violence against unionists is not a method by which we can attract them into a united Ireland. Unfortunately, terrorism and organised crime still exist in this society and throughout Europe. The people in the Bataclan theatre in November 2015 were victims of terrorism, as were the people on Westminster Bridge and in other areas of London in 2017. We must recognise that people in this country and elsewhere are entitled to be protected from terrorism. They are also entitled to have their lives protected from organised crime. In a civilised and organised society they ask their police forces to do that. Particularly in light of Brexit, it is crucial that there be increased co-operation between police forces in the European Union. We will lose Britain from the European Union in March next year, so increased co-operation with our European partners in investigation on terrorism and organised crime is more important than ever. I and other Members have spoken many times in this House of the need for increased resources for An Garda Síochána. This is an opportunity for it to receive greater resources from the European internal security fund.

It is clear that some €1 billion of the fund of approximately €2.5 billion will be invested in what has been referred to as a thematic facility. I asked the Minister questions about this thematic facility yesterday. I do not know where it is going to be based.

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