Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Brian Hayes on electronic voting. I am in favour of electronic voting but am extremely concerned about the reservations that have been expressed, in particular regarding security. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, adopts an almost gung ho attitude to the issue. It is worth bearing in mind that further concerns have arisen in regard to the Minister's actions because he is the national director of elections for Fianna Fáil in the upcoming local elections. I urge caution on the Minister. I am glad he has rolled back on certain aspects of this and hope he will roll back on other aspects also.

Members will be aware there has been extreme concern in recent days regarding the Ardoyne area of Belfast where 13 young people have committed suicide within a few weeks. This has been linked and associated with the gangsterism and tactics adopted by the INLA in that area. While I am not a member of the British-Irish Commission, it is an issue the commission should discuss and which the Taoiseach should take up with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland. If this gangsterism is allowed to prevail, the good done in the context of the Agreement will break down. Anybody following the debate over the past few days would be extremely concerned by what is happening in Belfast. The issue requires a response from this jurisdiction and should be tackled in Belfast.