Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Yesterday in the other House, the Taoiseach responded to questions from Deputy Kenny on the case of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. In his reply, the Taoiseach indicated that the murderers of Detective Garda McCabe would be subject to early release. This statement has caused shock. The people in Adare were robbers and it is worth bearing in mind that the IRA and Sinn Féin stated at the time that they were not part of the patriotic movement, although they later admitted they were.

The then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform called to Mrs. McCabe and stated in writing that these people would not be eligible for the early release programme under the Good Friday Agreement or any other agreement. It has been postulated that this is a make or break issue for the talks at present but there is a perception that Sinn Féin is holding the Government to ransom on this issue. If words mean anything, this will be classified a monumental U-turn on the part of the Government.

The GRA has stated today that there is a lack of honesty involved in this issue. In the context of what is happening in Northern Ireland I ask the Government to seriously consider this issue. It is not good enough for the Taoiseach to state, as he did yesterday, that he will have discussions with Mrs. McCabe and the representative bodies. It is a pity such discussions had not taken place before the Taoiseach made such a calculated statement in Leinster House yesterday. In that context, I am appalled, as are the people who have contacted me, at this decision of the Government.