Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Is that all? I have only started. I have concerns regarding the quangoisation of North-South relations. I fear that bodies have been created without concern for either value for money or proper public scrutiny. Such bodies were created in more financially extravagant times and both value for money and a focus on proper public scrutiny are required in the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

I wish to turn to the issue of violence within Northern Ireland. There is relief that the brutal murders of Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey from London and Birmingham, respectively, as well as that of Police Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon, have not marked the beginning of a new campaign of violence. However, I note the comments of Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie that dissident republican groups pose a severe and increasing threat. She stated "we are obviously very concerned at the level of threat and it behoves us...to work together". The issue of law and order and co-operation to tackle dissidents is extremely important. In addition, it is feared that dissident republicans were linked to or were behind the recent importation of 120 million cigarettes near Dundalk. I know of smokers who buy their cigarettes for half the price that obtains in shops. Such people need to be made aware that such cigarettes-----