Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

As many Members raised the issue of Detective Garda McCabe, God rest him, I will read some paragraphs from a statement given to me by the Government. Of course, it will not satisfy everyone but it will put matters in context and we can then talk in a less formal way about the issue. The statement is long. I shall not read all of it but merely quote five of the paragraphs:

This issue remains on the agenda. Sinn Féin have made it clear that they are unable to convince the IRA leadership to move away from violence, as we all want them to, without the Castlerea prisoner situation being resolved. [Those convicted are in Castlerea Prison].

The Government can consider the early release of these prisoners only in the context where the complete ending of paramilitarism by the IRA and decommissioning is assured.

The Government cannot see any prospect of a restoration of the Good Friday Agreement in the absence of such a definitive outcome.

If the Government were to make such a decision it would be doing so in a context where this island would be looking forward to an entirely new situation in which the IRA had become a thing of the past.

If such a situation arises, the concerns of the McCabe family, Detective Ben O'Sullivan, his colleague, the gardaí and the public at large will continue to be central to the Government consideration of the matter.

I would prefer that this statement be read formally in reply to Senators and I will go through——