Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

Many good points have been made in this evening's excellent debate. The security of our State is the backbone of our democracy and when that security is threatened, we are all threatened. If we do not punish those people who threaten our security, we weaken our democracy. The crimes of the killers of Garda McCabe are unacceptable to every right-thinking person in the country. Not many years ago this killing would have been a hanging offence, but the killers have only received the punishment for manslaughter. Many people would consider their sentence very short.

These people were members of an illegal organisation which, as the Minister said today, continues massive criminal activity and intimidation North and South. Members of this illegal organisation are still at large. The Minister was asked why he cannot apprehend and lock up these people. I accept he is doing his best. We know this criminal activity is going on North and South and we cannot stop it. That is not good enough.

No matter what negotiations the Minister and the Government must enter into to ensure we have peace North and South, the majority of the people would find it unacceptable if the McCabe killing were used as a pawn in the process. It is unacceptable that members of an illegal organisation would use it as a tool to get what they want. If the release of these prisoners is the only outstanding issue, it is being used as a continuing excuse not to bring about the peace we all want and expected following the Good Friday Agreement. These people have only a short remaining period of their sentence to serve so let us not use the situation as a pawn.

The IRA and Sinn Féin have removed their balaclavas and donned pinstriped suits. Let us not be fooled by the facade.