David Norris (Independent)

It is perfectly clear they were not supposed to be operating as members of the Provisional IRA when they committed this bank heist — that is what it was — and those who did it were thugs, robbers, murderers and gangsters. If one accepts that membership of the IRA exonerates people of this crime, of what else does it exonerate them? Is it from activities that are not part of this organisation which most people did not support? It is time we had a debate on this issue. We are always told that intemperate language in the Seanad will cause problems and we have to be careful about what we say. I think we are too diffident. I would welcome the opportunity to say that somebody should have told Dr. Ian Paisley that he should be more circumspect. His recent statements indicate he may have talked himself out of an agreement. I do not believe that a proper relationship can start by the public humiliation of one party, however one may dislike that party.

I seek a resumption of the debate on No. 15, statements on the Middle East. That would provide us with an opportunity and perhaps the Leader would be able to ask the Taoiseach how he feels about the praise publicly heaped upon him both last night in Trinity College and this morning on the airwaves by Senator John McCain for the support, assistance, help and co-operation given by this Government in the prosecution of the Gulf War. It is important to have this debate and we should have it continually. There was a Sherlock Holmes story in which they talked about the dog in the night.