Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I categorically state my full support for my friend and colleague the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, and for the Garda Commissioner. There are moments in politics when raw hypocrisy needs to be called out. The idea that Sinn Féin now presents itself as the defender of law and order and the Garda Síochána is difficult for this party to stomach. Sinn Féin is the only party in the House that has publicly supported murderers of members of An Garda Síochána. This is a party with a TD convicted by the Special Criminal Court and sentenced to ten years in prison. This is a party that walks out of the House, literally, when asked to confirm support for the Special Criminal Court. This is a party with a front bench Member who tried to storm the House from Merrion Street with a group of protesters in 2010, forcing gardaí to draw batons to protect themselves and these Houses. This is a party whose leader, even this evening, decided, deliberately in my view, to mislead the Chamber and to sow further division and fear, even among such a vulnerable community as parents and staff in a vulnerable school, in the context of this debate.

Let me say this, I believe our Minister for Justice has more integrity than Sinn Féin has in its entire organisation. I believe the Garda Commissioner, whose father let us not forget was murdered by the IRA in his car on his way to church with his wife, has more integrity and has done more for the people of this Ireland, North and South, in terms of law and order than any of you on the benches opposite. We all in this House have work to do to respond to the threat of the far right and the division and hate it seeks to create. I trust the Minister Deputy McEntee and Commissioner Harris to give the leadership needed to face down this challenge. I believe the country does too.

See this speech in context