David Norris (Independent)

With regard to the McCabe controversy, excellently ventilated in the House, over the past week a series of radio programmes was aired and polls were conducted. Over 80% of the people disagree with the release because this was plainly a criminal enterprise. At the time, the IRA and Sinn Féin said these criminals were not theirs, they did not know them and they disowned them. They did so because this was a bank heist, robbery and murder and no less. Now, by insisting on these people's inclusion, the IRA and Sinn Féin are associating themselves with thugs, murderers and thieves, joined in a criminal conspiracy against society. They should be reminded that until very recently the murder of a garda was a capital offence, the only remaining such offence in the State. That is how seriously we take it.