Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I do not intend to speak for long as I just want to comment on the unfortunate situation that requires the legislation to be in place. We would much rather that the situation had moved on far more significantly than is the case. I echo the feeling expressed by Members in both Houses that we look forward to the day when we do not need this type of legislation. It would be remiss of me not to make a contribution on the basis that three of my constituents were involved in the Omagh bombing and two of their Spanish friends were also killed. That event has touched our community very deeply and we empathise and sympathise with the families of the more than 3,000 other people who died in the Troubles.

We want to move on with peace. We do not want terrorist activity in the form of fuel laundering, drug dealing or anything else that is disguised as something other than what it is. I would like to see an end to all criminal activity with a terrorism background. We all have a role to play in ensuring there is no place for criminals to hide. I strongly advocate that people continue to come forward to the police, North and South, with any information they have on current or past events.

In the course of a debate the question was asked about whether the Omagh bombing or the Dublin and Monaghan bombings were more important. All such death is wrong. All those events were beyond tragic and anyone who has information on them should come forward, even at this stage.

I trust this legislation will not be needed in the very near future. I know the consequences of the actions in my area and I want to see the better Ireland heralded by the Good Friday Agreement for which people voted.