John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join with colleagues in condemning in the strongest possible terms what has happened in the past few days in Northern Ireland. I agree with Senator Harris that in the peace process in the past ten, 15 and even 20 years, if one goes back to the Anglo-Irish Agreement, words have been very important in progressing matters. However, we have moved past words and in terms of dealing with these thugs; it is actions we need to put into place. I agree with Senator Harris that there needs to be a relentless pursuit of these people and there can be no hiding place for them on this side of the Border. Other Senators have spoken of a sense of impotence, to which Senator Mullen referred, and said we cannot be effective. We can be effective if we insist no shelter is given to these people.

Senator O'Reilly referred to his sons who are in primary school. I remember being in primary school in the 1980s and listening to the radio in the morning, I would hear the news about who had been shot or blown up the night before in Northern Ireland. Like everybody, I hoped we would never again have to turn on the radio in the mornings and listen to what had happened the night before.

The arrogance of these people to think they can determine who are legitimate targets — they are our political legitimate targets and we should leave no stone unturned in their pursuit. The stupidity, short-sightedness and counter-productiveness of what they are doing is evident. The people on this island have moved on so much in the past 15 years and this is an attempt to drag us back to the dark days of the 1980s in particular, which I remember from my youth.

I want to add my voice, as that is what I can do in this Chamber, but I know we can do other things outside the Chamber. We need to ensure that the powers currently in place, to which Senator Harris referred, are examined and used to ensure these thugs do not bring us back to those terrible days we thought were behind us.