Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Rafferty family to the House. I sympathise with them on the death of their brother and son, Joseph.

It is time for Sinn Féin to get real. We listen to its representatives every day talking about the great work the party is doing and stating it represents the marginalised in society. I always feel that all the political parties represent the marginalised. Nobody has a monopoly on the marginalised. We deal with the marginalised regularly in our daily work in our constituency offices. Nobody can claim to have a monopoly of representation over the marginalised sector of society.

If one considers the reality on the ground, including the killings of Robert McCartney and Joseph Rafferty, and even that of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, one will note that Sinn Féin has been found wanting on every occasion. I thank God we have strong women in this country. In this regard I commend the widow of Jerry McCabe, Ann McCabe, who was fantastic in very difficult personal circumstances and who stood up to Sinn Féin at local and national levels. I compliment the McCartney sisters, who played a stormer, took on Sinn Féin and highlighted the case of their brother although they were being intimidated, as they are even to this day. This intimidation is truly shocking. I compliment the Rafferty family who are following their example. It is shocking in this day and age that a certain element in the Sinn Féin-IRA organisation has not moved on or realised it is not acceptable in a civilised society to mete out what it considers to be justice.

There is talk about a united Ireland but I believe we should talk about it in terms of people rather than just in terms of geography. I welcomed the physical act of decommissioning this week but we must now move on and decommission the mindset of which previous speakers have spoken. Shakespeare warned us to beware of smiling faces. This applies in particular to many members of the Sinn Féin leadership. The come across very well and appear very suave on television and radio, yet when it comes to asking the hard questions and making tough decisions within their own ranks, they are found wanting. I urge them to accept the responsibility they have been given and out the people within their organisation who should be outed in respect of the killings of both Robert McCartney and Joseph Rafferty.

I was very upset during the summer when I heard the Taoiseach speak about Sinn Féin being given speaking rights, in the Seanad in particular. That was not agreed in the House. The Taoiseach should not be engaging in side deals with Sinn Féin and every issue should be in the open and debatable. We are living in a democracy and actions such as that of the Taoiseach are unhelpful. We noted the furore last year over the possible release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. I am thankful the Opposition opposed it and that the Government did a U-turn in this regard. The House has stood united tonight against thuggery and violence and this is the way forward. The days of secret deals and meetings are over.

I sympathise again with the Rafferty family and urge members of Sinn Féin and the IRA who have relevant information to come forward immediately. There are many decent people in Sinn Féin, particularly those under the age of 30 who remember the party in times of peace. However, we should not forget the atrocities that were committed and must never return to circumstances in which they are committed again.