Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

This is going on in our society and I will not be silenced on it. The people must know what is going on because those moneys are not being accumulated for some international charity; they are being used for the purposes of the entire provisional movement. This is self-evident to anybody who wants to inquire into it.

We face a challenge to our republican values and to our democratic system. That challenge comes in large measure, but not exclusively, from the provisional movement which is now confronted with a historic choice. If it attempts to go on as before, it will run into the resolute, determined and complete opposition of those who hold democratic office in this country. Alternatively, after the twin towers attack and 11 March in Madrid, it has the choice to say there is no way it can hold the threat of going back to war — its famous phrase — over the free people of this island. That is not an option and, therefore, it is now confronted with the moment of truth. Does it adhere to the ideology I mentioned, does it adhere to the racketeering, criminality and so on or does it make this quantum leap from all of that into democracy? I have no confidence the choice will be made for the latter option but if it is, I will generously respond, as will the people. If it is not, the war of attrition of words will be won by those who stand up for democracy. There was a time when constructive ambiguity was required to move the situation from where it was to where it is now.