Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before proceeding to Questions on Proposed Legislation I will give each leader, beginning with the Taoiseach, one minute for a brief statement on the monstrous attacks in Nice last week.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We have been here before - after the Charlie Hebdoand kosher supermarket murders in January last year, the November slaughter in Paris and the Brussels bomb attacks. Now we mourn the death of 84 people, and the serious injuries suffered by many more, after the latest in this appalling litany of outrage.

Each of these attacks has been the same in its dreadful consequences, but each has had its own distinctly horrific features. People have been killed for who they were - journalists or Jews. People have been killed as they enjoyed an autumn Friday evening out, as they travelled to work or through an international airport and now, just after they had watched spectacular fireworks by the Mediterranean at the end of France’s national day.

In each case, they have been killed as they enjoyed - and because they enjoyed - the freedoms offered by our western civilisation. The freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. The freedom to have a drink, to listen to music, for men and women, gay and straight, to be together on a night out. The freedom to travel and to work. The freedom to come together to celebrate the eternal values of France - liberty, equality and fraternity.

Those who were murdered on Thursday night were French and foreign, young and old, male and female. Families were wiped out or shattered forever. The innocent faces of the youngest victims are deeply poignant, but so too is the face of the 73 year old grandmother who was the first person to be killed, and in a bitter irony, she was only one of many Muslims to be killed by someone purporting to act in the name of Islam.

We do not know if the killer acted alone or as part of a conspiracy, even though his attack was claimed by ISIS. His methods were cruder than those used in previous attacks. It does seem clear that he was a deeply disturbed and unstable person - at first glance, similar to those responsible for so many gun attacks in the United States of America, most recently in Orlando.

Ireland stands by France. France is a great nation, the birthplace of republicanism and of universal human rights. These values are more precious than ever in our turbulent and dangerous world and must be protected. I look forward very much to greeting President Hollande in Dublin on Thursday, as will President Higgins, and to conveying to him in person the deep sympathy and outrage felt by the people of Ireland.

We must do all we can to combat evil and to protect our citizens. As the Tánaiste said yesterday, the gardaí keep the country safe and they work based on intelligence.

Although we have no reason to believe that Ireland is in the front line, the gardaí and the Government will continue to take whatever measures are necessary to deal with the terrorist threat. Ireland works very closely with France and other international partners, and within the EU significant progress has been made on a wide range of counter-terrorism legislation and other practical measures of co-operation, though there is also a very long way to go. There is also an intensified focus on combating and rooting out the ideology of hate, an ideology totally inconsistent with true religious belief.

It is a sad reality, however, that no defences can guarantee absolute safety, above all, against an attack so chillingly rage-filled and basic as that of Bastille Day, but we cannot allow ourselves to be cowed or beaten by terrorism, and we will not.

The best response is to continue to live our lives in accordance with the values of our society because in the end, liberty and love will triumph over repression and hate.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and on my own behalf, I want again to join with Deputies in sending our sincerest sympathy to the families bereaved by this appalling act of terror, which raises the threshold of inhumanity to an incomprehensible level. We send our sympathy to the people of France in what is a deeply trying time for them.

Last Friday, I called to see Ambassador Thébault to convey these sentiments to him personally. During our discussion it became clear that the connections between Ireland and France run deep and strong. Thursday’s horrific act in Nice is the seventh major attack on the French people in recent years.

There is no question where the people of our country stand. We stand in solidarity with France and we stand in solidarity with the great principles of liberty, equality and fraternity which, even after Nice, will always define 14 July.

As we look for ways of responding to the events in Nice, the Bataclan and Charlie Hebdoand to the other horrific events in many parts of Europe and beyond, we must never forget what we stand for and we must never allow the terrorists to define our standards. There is no justification of any sort for these horrific acts. They are illegitimate in every way and they go directly against the overwhelming views of people on whose behalf the killers claim to act. These are not the acts of a religion, a people or a popular movement. They are the actions of small groups of individuals which we must never waiver in opposing.

This is a tense time in global affairs. There are many calls for extreme reaction. There is a natural urge to find refuge in broad definitions of the enemy. New types of terror require new and robust responses. The democratic will cannot be defenceless in the face of those who seek to destroy it but, equally, we must never forget what it is we defend. There are those who love nothing more than to attack the values of Europe by refusing to acknowledge anything that distinguishes it from places dominated by cruel and dominant governments. Nothing will ever convince them. However, Europe is a continent which is defined by a respect for democracy and human rights beyond any other region in the world. France must not stop being France because of these attacks and Europe must not stop being Europe because that is exactly what the terrorists want. They want us to act like them and they want to inspire an extreme reaction. They want to make things immeasurably worse for the communities from whence they came. It is only by creating a spiral of division and destruction that they can win. We can never allow that.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clanna na ndaoine a mharaíodh in Nice sa Fhrainc Déardaoin seo caite. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse. Chuir sé déistin orm nuair a chonaic mé an nuacht. Caithfidh achan duine seasamh go láidir in aghaidh an ionsaithe seo.

On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend my sincerest and heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the families and the friends of those killed in the despicable act of hate in Nice on Bastille Day last Thursday. There were 84 people killed, including ten children, and more than 300 people were injured in the harrowing attack. Sinn Féin's spokesperson on foreign affairs, Teachta Seán Crowe, has written to the French ambassador to express our condolences and solidarity with the French people at this extremely difficult time. This morning, myself and leas uachtarán Shinn Féin, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, signed the book of condolence at the Mansion House. A copy of the Proclamation hangs above the little table holding the book of condolence - our own declaration of liberty, fraternity and equality. The people of France have had to endure too many tragedies in a short period of time and our thoughts and prayers are with all of them once again.

I am also concerned about developments in Turkey over the weekend. Sinn Féin condemns the attempted military coup but we also think it is important that a message is sent from the Dáil that the Turkish Government must act with restraint and within the rule of law. There are justifiable concerns that the fallout from developments there will lead to increased human rights violations with the Turkish president becoming even more authoritarian. We look to An Taoiseach to state clearly these concerns on behalf of the people of this State.

Táimid ag smaoineamh ar na daoine ar fud an domhain a fuair bás, go háirithe ag an uair mhillteanach seo le muintir na Fraince. Ba mhaith liom comhbhrón Shinn Féin a chur in iúl dóibh.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Bastille Day commemorates a transformative moment in modern history. Each year, the French people remember that true citizenship was not always automatic and that France is now a united country. Last week, the peaceful celebration of national unity and identity was torn apart in the city of Nice.

Eighty-four people, including children, died on a day that should have contained only joy. Hundreds more were injured and continue to suffer. Our sympathies are with those who were hurt and those who were injured, and with their families, all their friends and the entire French people at home and away.

We know that the unity of the French nation will stand firm in the face of this act of barbarism. Five days ago, terror briefly replaced joy. Once more, our neighbours were attacked. What our President has referred to as cowardly, cold-blooded attacks have fuelled fears in France and across Europe. These are assaults on our way of life, on our core values. They are aimed at our liberty, our freedom, our democracy, but they will not work because, in the face of such attacks, we stand together in solidarity. France’s values are our values. The three days of national mourning in France have now come to an end. France lifts its head and looks once more, hopefully, to a better, brighter future, and Ireland and all the Irish people stand with her. On behalf of the Labour Party I send my condolences and our solidarity to all those so cruelly affected.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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On behalf of the Social Democrats I voice our revulsion at, and condemnation of, the horrific and mindless attack in Nice last Thursday evening. The horror of the attack is all the more poignant in view of the day on which it took place, France's national holiday. We can all visualise what it must have been like for those families out celebrating a very important national day and families on holidays. The attack was executed in such a way as to cause maximum destruction and harm. Eighty-four people died and countless others were seriously injured. We in this country are very conscious of our close ties with the French people. Many of us have been on holidays in Nice and can only just start to visualise what that scene must have been like along the prom in Nice. The Social Democrats join with other parties here in extending the deepest sympathies of the people of Ireland to our colleagues in France for what was an appalling situation.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On behalf of People Before Profit and the Anti-Austerity Alliance I extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the people who were massacred in Nice and those who were injured, some of whom are still in a critical state. The actions that claimed their lives were utterly despicable, unconscionable and unjustifiable in any terms. While we do not really know whether the attacker was a crazed lone individual influenced by the ideas of the so-called Islamic State or actually directed by it, we can be clear that that sort of hate and ideology offers absolutely nothing to humanity, the Muslim community, or any cause in North Africa, the Middle East or anywhere else in terms of trying to bring peace or justice to troubled parts of the world. It must be condemned in the most unequivocal terms. These tragedies continue and they seem to be multiplying. We need to begin to address how people can be driven to these acts of hatred and violence. While this is not the time to debate those things, we must resist any demonisation of the wider Muslim or North African communities in trying to understand or explain what happened.

We also have to address the deep sense of alienation and injustice that is felt by many people in north Africa, the Middle East and the north African and Muslim communities in France. That is not in any way to provide justification for this horrific attack, rather it recognises that alienation, frustration and a sense of injustice can be the seedbed for the sort of hatred we saw unleashed in Nice. If we do not want to see a repeat of these sorts of attacks, we all have a responsibility to begin to grapple with these issues.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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On behalf of Independents 4 Change, I extend our sympathies to the families and friends of all who lost loved ones and those who were injured. It is an unthinkable act on the part of a madman. It hardly bears thinking about. One would be better off not seeing what happened.

I find it sad that just before this madman struck there was an aerial display of French fighter planes. All of the fighter planes in France could not stop him. I do not think all of the nuclear power in France could stop him. One cannot deal with the possibility that a madman driving a large lorry can be stopped from creating havoc if he so chooses.

I was not glad to hear President Hollande say he would strengthen France's role in the Islamic civil wars in Iraq and Syria. I visited France during the European football championships and spoke to many French people about the terrible things that have happened in their country in recent times. I did not meet anybody who thought it would be a good idea to continue to bomb people in Syria and Iraq.

It is all madness. The whole region has been destabilised and I do not think more war will help anything. Could Ireland play a different role, return to a time when we were seen as a neutral country and start to advocate for peace and an end to the mindless destruction of countries and people?

I do not accept that people who behave in a mad way hate our lifestyle, culture and freedom. Rather, they hate the fact that we have wreaked such destruction on certain parts of the planet. There is no excuse for any of the atrocities that have happened across Europe. They are horrendous. I ask that we try to play a positive role by reaching out to all of the countries in Europe and appealing for a more peaceful approach and an end to the militarisation of the planet. It would do the people of every country in Europe and every other country a favour.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Our behalf of rural Independents, I add our voice to the condemnation of this most savage and horrific attack on Bastille Day. Many colleagues attended a reception at the French ambassador's residence to celebrate Bastille Day. I was unable to attend but attended the event last year. It is unbelievable to think that a celebration and joyous occasion could turn into such an atrocity. As others have said, it behoves all of us to do our best to reflect, keep calm and cool and not overreact because a person who sets out to do the maximum damage can and could do so at any time. All the security in the world would not stop it.

We need to know what affects such people and try to get an understanding of it. Above all, we must stand in support of the French people at this time. We must also offer our sympathies to the ambassador, and as many as possible should sign the book of condolences at the Mansion House in order to show our empathy. We value freedom, fraternity and democracy, and attacks such as the one in Nice do not help democracy. We express our deepest sympathy to everybody involved and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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On behalf of the Independent Alliance I offer my deepest sympathy to all the families and victims of the horrific slaughter last week on the streets of Nice. A total of 84 people were murdered and more than 300 were injured. Many families have been devastated. Many of the families who survived will never get over that mass murder. What a nightmare for those families, particularly the mothers, fathers and children.

Nice is a part of France I know well. Like many of my colleagues, I have walked that walk. I walked along it 15 or 16 years ago with my two daughters in a buggy, so I know exactly the kind of situation that prevailed when the nightmare happened. Such murder can never ever be tolerated. It is important today that we focus on the victims. I agree with my colleagues that we must examine broader issues internationally as well, but today I wish to focus on the victims and their families and also to remember the French people.

Let us not forget the Tunisian people either. I saw a television programme the other night where a lot of Tunisian French families were interviewed. They were upset and devastated that one from their country had carried out that horrific act. There are still many good people in the world. Let us remember them and let us not ever tolerate any kind of racism or sectarianism in this country or internationally. Once again, I offer my deepest sympathy to all of the families.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I watched the video clip on social media of the truck starting its mad, evil slalom down that Nice road. I can only imagine the horror as it careered looking for death. Sadly, on that Friday night, one did not even have to imagine. I followed on so-called social media - perhaps others here did so also - what was happening in the coup in Istanbul and Ankara. I followed it live on Periscope. I saw the incredible bravery of the citizens of those cities as they stood up and fought to preserve their democracy. They stood in front of and on top of the tanks that faced them and tried to blind them. There was one incident that I hate to recall but in a sense it was similar to what happened in Nice. Soldiers in an armoured vehicle went down a road in Ankara and ploughed through their fellow Turkish people. As the hand-held phone turned, one saw a beheaded torso sitting dead on the road.

What a weekend of sadness it was. We also saw a sergeant of the Marines - heroes to American people, the modern day Daniel Boones - obviously traumatised and mentally ill after serving in Iraq, killing three policemen. We also remember them. They died in the former French colony in Baton Rouge. It is as if the bodies keep falling since that day when something happened that we could never have imagined, when someone flew a plane into a trade centre. Now, someone has used a truck in a way we could never have thought of. There is a sense that we should just shout "Stop" - that we need a different constitution, a bigger constitution. We need a different Bastille Day, one with peace and mercy at its core. As others said, all we can do is kneel with the parents of those who died near that Nice strand and remember the words of the Trojan mother Hecuba when she said in response to her child being thrown from the walls of the city, crushed and broken:

Oh to clasp thy tender limbs, a mother's fondest joy! Oh to breathe thy fragrant breath! ... Why have ye in terror of this child been guilty of murder never matched before?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputies to stand as a mark of respect for those who have died, and thoughtful of those who remain injured.