John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Taoiseach and congratulate him on the work he has done to date.

All Members bring with them life experiences, on which they are expected to draw when they contribute to debate in this House. In keeping with that tradition, I speak in this most important debate as a proud Member of Seanad Éireann upholding those principles. Diversity of views shared in a House of this sort is the essence of democracy.

Like previous speakers, I congratulate the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Government on their handling of the negotiations on the peace process to date. Many Irish citizens have short memories. They would prefer to forget our troubled history and the fact that, in the aftermath of 1969, the country teetered on the edge of anarchy. The strong Government, together with the loyalty of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána, ensured the country was not propelled into the abyss.

I spent 21 years of my life serving this country as a member of the Defence Forces, working side by side with my colleagues in the Garda Síochána. We were loyal to the State, loyal to the Government of the day and carried out our duties without fear or favour in the interests of the democratic society in which we now live. I, like my colleagues on the day we were commissioned, swore an oath that I would be loyal to the Constitution and the State. In carrying out those duties, we did so in the clear knowledge that the same State and Government we served would reciprocate loyalty. Some paid the ultimate price for that service and those of us who wore the uniform of the State are more conscious of that than most.

I now find myself on the other side of the fence as a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Peace on this island is worth fighting for and no true democrat should stand in the way of that prize. The views I express this evening are my own personal views. Since I entered politics I have consistently stated that I am opposed to the early release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. In doing so, I put tremendous pressure on other members of my party and the Oireachtas who are similarly disdainful at the prospect of this happening. This is not my intention. I have searched long and hard to find it in my heart to move on in the interests of the greater good, to seize the opportunity offered at this time for a complete and final settlement of the problems that have bedevilled this island for so long.

The Government of this country, which is elected by the people to serve the people, is being asked to do the unthinkable, to free the unrepentant killers of a member of the Garda Síochána who died protecting the very people the Government is elected to serve. Sinn Féin has forced the Government into this position. Sinn Féin is a party that is part of our democratic process yet it is making a demand which flies in the face of democracy. No party, bar one, wants these men released.

I voted for the Good Friday Agreement and, in doing so, I accepted the early release of garda murderers. When doing so I believed that the killers of Detective Garda McCabe would not be released because I clearly and unequivocally considered the killing to be an act of murder carried out by criminals, criminals who were disowned by Sinn Féin and then, when caught, were given comfort, succour and support by Sinn Féin.

In recent days there has been much talk about a full and comprehensive end to criminality. I, together with the vast majority of Irish people, felt that such an end was inherent in voting for the Good Friday Agreement. I drew the line in the sand that day and since then what did I get but a Sinn Féin interpretation of peace and democracy, a continuation of kneecappings, punishment beatings, exiling, extortion and racketeering. The witnesses in the trial of Detective Garda McCabe were intimidated, resulting in a charge of murder being reduced to one of manslaughter. Is that the democracy we want?