Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his fulsome response and I welcome the comments made therein. I raised this issue earlier today at the Committee on European Union Affairs when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Simon Coveney, was giving us an update on Brexit negotiations and preparation. I welcome the statement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Helen McEntee, yesterday at the Committee on Justice that a number of measures in the Department of Justice and Equality will be included in the Brexit omnibus legislation to come shortly before the House.

Regardless of what happens with Brexit, and we are at a delicate part of that process, it is vital we have that level of co-operation between An Garda Síochána, the PSNI and the relevant agencies. I welcome the Minister of State’s closing statement in that regard. That co-operation has been vital to maintaining the security of the State. We cannot take it for granted and we have to make sure, first and foremost, that the resources are provided to An Garda Síochána throughout the Border region and in the relevant sections and Departments that the Minister of State outlined to ensure they can continue to do their job as effectively as possible. We may not be as worried in this jurisdiction but when the threat of dissident paramilitary violence is ranked as severe in Northern Ireland, that is a threat to every person on this island.

Let us not pretend these dissidents are misunderstood freedom fighters. They are, as the Minister of State rightly said, subversives, regardless of what political badge they try to put on, loyalist, republican or otherwise. They do not value the importance of life in this State, they do not respect law and order or the people of this island, regardless of what border we may put there. We need to call them out and ensure An Garda Síochána and every other agency in the State is tooled up and able to direct its full resources. I appreciate An Garda Síochána is stretched at the moment and we thank Garda members for their continued efforts in dealing with pandemic but it is the Minister of State’s responsibility and that of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to ensure the spectre of paramilitary violence is not let return to this island.

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