Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

It was in Northern Ireland. If the Minister has evidence that any of the 55 people released in this State have been involved in the type of criminality that he has rightly put on the record of this House, I advise him to test it in the courts. These people have already got away with murder. It would be adding insult to injury if they were allowed to be involved in smuggling, racketeering and other forms of criminality. On that point I ask the Minister for greater clarification. If there is evidence, let the Minister have it tried in the courts, convict those people again and put them behind bars.

The Minister did not reply to my specific question about the two on the run who escaped prosecution eight years ago in Adare. Are these people part and parcel of one ultimate deal? They must face the charges, as the other men did, if they come back and are arrested in this State. We should never countenance in this State the notion that crimes can be simply expunged and put to one side. In the name and memory of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and other fine officers who have given their lives for this country, we should not allow terrorists to rewrite our history. On that basis, I will be calling a vote.

Amendment put.