John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, and I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, for his contribution and for remaining in the House for so long. It is encouraging we are having this debate in the context of yesterday's IMC report. The report stated the IMC feels "there are indications of a dynamic of change occurring in the Northern Ireland, though it is patchy in its occurrence and impact". The general feeling — positive yet tinged with concern — is reflected in my statement, as I am sure it is in many others. I would like to explain why.

There remains good and bad. The IMC reports have been described as prompting a glass half full or half empty response from political figures, members of the public and political commentators who have used that analogy. This report is no different. Dwelling on the positive or the negative is the ploy of interested parties on each side of the political divide in Northern Ireland. I do not believe it is necessary or appropriate to do the same. Furthermore, it is important to recognise that different criteria apply to each side of the Border. We must not fall into the trap of applying the same criteria for participation in an administration or an assembly with participation in a sovereign government. That error suits some but it will not be made by me or the Progressive Democrats.

As I said, we should not place inordinate emphasis on either the positive or the negative. We need balance so let me begin with the positive. The House must acknowledge that progress is being made in Northern Ireland and commend the work undertaken by the Governments, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and others, to push the sometimes inert political process forward. The IMC's confirmation that the IRA's paramilitary activity has ceased since July last and that the IRA leadership has taken the strategic decision to end its armed campaign and pursue the political path is truly welcome. The commission states that the organisation had decided to pursue a political course and eschew terrorism. It is worth reflecting on that. If we just rattle off the line, its significance is diminished somewhat. The end of the armed campaign, pursuit of the political path and eschewing terrorism are developments people on this island literally prayed for on bended knee for decades. Indeed, people around the world pleaded over and over again for this happen. In September 1979 in Drogheda, Pope John Paul II said to the men of violence "on my knees I beg you to turn away from the path of violence and return to the ways of peace". More progress can and should be made but we must look at what has been done.

The IMC report states there have been no murders, no recruitment and no bank robberies. The commission has noted the continuing developments towards properly administered community restorative justice. The House will be aware of, in the IMC's words, the critical role this has to play "in helping wean communities away from a reliance on, and control by, paramilitaries". Nothing must inhibit the development of normal policing in Northern Ireland.

In terms of the IMC's specific recommendations, we must not ignore its belief that financial measures against Sinn Féin should not continue. If parties or individuals are minded to kick up plenty of dust when sanctions are levied against groups, they should also be minded to recognise when those sanctions cease.

There is much to be positive about regarding developments in Northern Ireland. The positives should be enunciated clearly but, and there always seems to be one, there are problems which cannot be ignored. To provide the balance I referred to at the outset, we must also look at the negatives. They must be enunciated clearly also.

Regrettably, the IMC reported that some IRA members were still engaged in criminality. It also determined that intelligence gathering was continuing. Worryingly, this activity appears to be authorised by the leadership. We accept that complete control over an organisation the size of the IRA is difficult, if not next to impossible. Individuals, call them rogues or whatever, perhaps even a small group of them, will no doubt act in unwanted, illegal and criminal ways. The concern emerges when that activity is authorised by the leadership or when the leadership gives support and succour to those so-called rogues when they are caught.

I remind the House of Adare and the death of Jerry McCabe. The IRA said it had nothing to do with it and that it was not an IRA-sanctioned operation. However, once those involved were caught, the IRA wanted them released under the Good Friday Agreement. That is what the people cannot tolerate. When the rogue is caught, he or she must be outed, not given succour and comfort.

No society can tolerate a group which appears to retain long-term intentions to gather intelligence. I express my deep unease and that of my party at this element of the report. Intelligence gathering which will be used for political gain, intimidation, etc., is a very dangerous way for this country to go. While I am on that subject of criminality, what am I to say to the families of Robert McCartney and Joseph Rafferty? Am I to say to the McCartneys and the Raffertys that Robert and Joseph died for Ireland in a fair struggle or am I to say this was a criminal act? We must be very mindful of where we draw the line in terms of what is acceptable behaviour of a so-called political party when taking a stand on these types of issues.

This is compounded by the view that senior members of the IRA are involved in money laundering and other crime and the reports that the leadership appears to have sanctioned some criminal activities. I have stated before my belief that the IRA has not gone out of business but, in fact, has gone into business. This report confirms those views.

As the record of the House will show, for many years, I have stated the importance of making a very clear distinction between paramilitarism and criminality, neither of which is acceptable. The exploitation of financial assets the IRA has previously acquired is evidence it is going into business. I remain deeply concerned about these claims. Make no mistake about it, this serious accumulation of business interests will be used for political gain to undermine the political process of this State and, ultimately, the State itself.

Perhaps the most worrying development is the revelation of credible reports that not all IRA weapons and ammunition were handed over for decommissioning in September. This is not only a serious challenge to the relationship between the IMC and General de Chastelain's decommissioning body, it poses a challenge to the foundation on which further progress is to be made. Nevertheless, I do not believe this apparent difference represents any immediate impediment to progress and talks on Northern Ireland.

In the first instance, we must deal with any differences in security assessments made by the PSNI, MI5, the Garda and our own military intelligence service. This will be an important step in restoring the type of confidence that was rightly felt and expressed last September. I hope the Government will implement a process to assess those different intelligence reports. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has correctly pointed out that yesterday's report also poses challenges for loyalist paramilitaries, who must also act in a manner that is congruent with the action taken by the IRA from July last.

I will conclude with three brief points. First, the International Monitoring Commission report represents both an asset and a challenge for both the Governments and the political parties. As the commission stated, we must "reassert the primacy of politics" by witnessing engagement between the parties. Undoubtedly, 2006 will prove to be a decisive year for the peace process and I join in the calls from the IMC that all parties must take the necessary steps to allow trust and confidence to be built.

It has been stated that politics must mean action. Hence, my second point is that the arrangements and timetable for the restoration of the devolved institutions must be the focus of the talks which will begin on 6 February. There is no barrier to this progress. Unfortunately, there has been some mistaken equation of the situations on either side of the Border. There is a significant difference between the devolved assembly and administration in the North of Ireland, and the sovereign Government of the Republic of Ireland. Specifically, but not exclusively, I refer to the responsibility for justice and State security. Those who state that "if it is not good enough for you, it is not good enough for us", should stop and think.

Third, I, the Progressive Democrats and undoubtedly the people of this entire island are pleased that there are indications of a dynamic of change occurring in Northern Ireland. No murders and no robberies have taken place and while we are pleased, we are not grateful. We are not grateful because these abominations should never have been visited upon the people of this island in the first place. We will not thank people for refraining from murder, targeting, robbery, protection rackets, extortion, etc. While we will be glad when it happens, we will not gush with admiration for those who drop smoking guns in the bin. We must not sell out the principles on which our system of governance and justice is based. The system that pertains in Northern Ireland, as agreed to in referenda, requires that republicans participate in an administration. No such requirement exists in this State and political parties on both sides should ponder these points.

I commend the work of the Governments, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, their officials, the International Monitoring Commission and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The Taoiseach, the British Prime Minister and the parties in the North deserve specific praise and encouragement. The International Monitoring Commission makes the point that this island, and Northern Ireland in particular, is becoming a better place. As I stated, many prayers have been offered over the years in the hope that what we are seeing signs of today will come to pass. This must be acknowledged and welcomed. On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I am glad to so do.