Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Along with my colleague, Senator Ryan, I fully support this motion. I sympathise with the family on their loss and I commend them on their bravery in pursuing this case. There are not many people in our society who are prepared to put their head above the parapet in this way, but the Rafferty and McCartney families have. When they do that, we all benefit and democracy benefits. Deputy Quinn and Councillor Kevin Humphries of the Labour Party have met with the Rafferty family and have discussed the case with them. They have supported calls that Sinn Féin does whatever it can to make sure the killer is brought to justice.

Sinn Féin Councillors Daithí Doolin and Christy Burke stated that if it transpired that the killer was a member of Sinn Féin, they would resign their seats. When asked about the IRA, Councillor Burke was quoted as saying that he would not dare ask if a person was a member of the IRA. Why not? When Sinn Féin receives bad publicity, then its representatives claim they have nothing to do with the IRA. However, Gerry Adams was doing everything he could today to maximise the IRA initiative on decommissioning. Sinn Féin members cannot act like pop stars and refuse to answer the hard questions. If they are really embracing democracy, then they must accept accountability, especially accountability to the law. For all the fanfare, Sinn Féin members are showing that they are not prepared to do that. They should not be let away with it in politics.