Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I wish to add my voice of condemnation regarding the callous murders carried out in Northern Ireland in recent days. They were outrageous and despicable acts, in which two young British soldiers and one police officer were mown down and taken away from their families and the communities they were protecting. No Member will ever understand the mind-set of the criminals who carried out such callous murders. It has been an affront to the peace process, the political system and the civilisation of our country and Northern Ireland. I am sure the perpetrators have not carried out these acts on behalf of any right-minded person in this country or in Northern Ireland. They certainly have no mandate to do what they did.

Members should again acknowledge the great work that communities and political parties, both North and South, have done to achieve the peace process. Moreover, the work they continue to do on a daily basis should never be underestimated and Members on this side of the House never do so. Members also must remind themselves of and acknowledge the great work of the men and women who work on the front lines in both Northern Ireland and southern Ireland to keep the peace and protect ordinary civilians. I refer to the Garda Síochána, the PSNI, the Irish Army and the British army. It is correct that all political parties should condemn these murders because that is the political message Members must send out. They should not be protected or harboured in any way and I ask the Leader to send such a message from Seanad Éireann today to these criminal thugs, which is all they are.