David Norris (Independent)

The Taoiseach showed great maturity and the vast majority of the decent, ordinary people of Ireland, among whose ranks I include myself, strongly supported and saluted the Taoiseach for what he did on that occasion.

I also like the approach taken by the Taoiseach in his speech. If it is a question of the glass being half full or half empty, the Taoiseach unhesitatingly states that it is half full. He stated that certain matters were "not wholly successful" and indicated that he is "not unduly pessimistic". That, in my opinion, is the way to approach this issue.

As Senator Ross stated, we have tried to have debates on this matter on several occasions in the Seanad but we were informed at times that the issues involved were too sensitive. Does the Taoiseach really believe that Mr. Adams and the Dr. Paisley are sensitive little animals? I do not believe so. I also do not believe the negotiations would be blown off track by something said in this House. I doubt that anyone pays a great deal of attention to what we might say.

In my view, photographs are largely an irrelevance. We should put it right up to Dr. Paisley and inform him that he is welcome to observe historic acts of decommissioning in person and report back to his people on them.

I am amazed at the sensitivity of Sinn Féin and the IRA. I recall a time when they used to use a visual image accompanied by the legend "sniper at work". That was a particularly nasty, vindictive and humiliating image. I wonder how it ran with the families of people such as Stephen Restorick, a decent young man who was gunned down.

I share the sympathy all people, including the Taoiseach, have for the widow of the late Detective Garda McCabe. Everybody must feel that sympathy at this time of year. It is important that contact be maintained on a continual basis with Mrs. McCabe. The Taoiseach is usually very good at dealing with human issues of this nature. However, it must be stated that those involved were engaged in a bank heist. They carried out the cold blooded murder of a defenceless man who was strapped into a car. By first denying and subsequently claiming these individuals, the IRA has defined itself into an area of criminality. There must be an end to this. The Taoiseach massaged the language when referring to this matter by stating that it was "illegal activity". It is illegal to have a dog without a licence but nobody would place that in the same category as approaching a defenceless man in a car, pulling the trigger and killing him. We must state that there can be no criminal activity. The IRA is not in charge of language. It cannot state that certain things are criminal for everybody else but not for members of its organisation. I do not believe the people of Ireland would accept that.

It is important that the Taoiseach has come before the House this evening because the Seanad has become involved in these issues. While the House has been enriched by the contributions of Members from Northern Ireland, such as former Senator John Robb and Senator Maurice Hayes, their presence here came about as a result of nomination by the Taoiseach. I am not sure it is wise to make constitutional provision for representation from the North of Ireland. There was an interesting letter on this matter in The Irish Times this morning which I am sure the Taoiseach has read. The points therein are well made and should be borne in mind.

I wish the Taoiseach well. I hope the IRA goes out of business. It is about time this happened. There is something sadly anachronistic about the name of Sinn Féin which translates as "ourselves alone". In this complex world of globalisation and interrelatedness, nobody is on their own. Sinn Féin must learn that it cannot be on its own.

I commend the Taoiseach on his valiant efforts in respect of this matter and I wish him success.