Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

It is sad to hear a Member of this House say we have to pay a price for peace in this country. Anybody who has lived and been in communication with the people of Ireland for the past 20 years realises a price has been paid by people on all sides who suffered murder at the hands of those who went about dealing with matters their way.

Members of this House do not understand the public's feelings in this regard if they think the release of the murderers of Detective Garda McCabe is the last issue to be settled before we move forward. Is this another price? Are Sinn Féin and the IRA moving the goalposts on a daily basis? What next, following the release of Detective Garda McCabe's murderers? How can we expect the Garda Síochána to have confidence in the system when we brush aside the murder of their comrades? How can we justify this and say we must accept it in order to deal with outstanding issues? It is time the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, came to this House and stated clearly and unequivocally if this is the final issue on which we must deal with the IRA or if we are to hear of more. It is imperative the Taoiseach and Minister stop equivocating and express their final decision in this regard.