Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome the introduction of this necessary legislation. If we lived in a perfect world, the Minister would not be here to make the announcement he has just made. If we lived in a perfect world, international disputes would be resolved by ballot rather than bullet. Democracy rather than dictatorship would reign throughout the world and we would not have the international worldwide terrorism problem that has plagued us for generations. That is the backdrop. Unfortunately, due to the conditions throughout the globe in respect of international terrorism, drug trafficking and the trafficking of human persons, this type of order is necessary. The Minister has given the appropriate assurances which indicate clearly that people who are not out to do harm should have no difficulty with this order and have nothing to fear from it. I am satisfied with the Minister's assurance in respect of the possibility of checking individual records and correcting them where mistakes have been made. That is an important safeguard.

Unfortunately, we have no option but to agree with the Minister in respect of the necessity for this measure to be introduced. We have heard of near misses in respect of airline attacks in recent weeks and we know only too well what has occurred during the past decade or so. We must continue the international fight against terrorism. A broad range of measures are necessary, including political as well as security measures. We must put the human rights aspect at the core. Tragically, as we speak, throughout the globe people are plotting to kill, maim, bomb, blow up airlines and kill citizens. We must continue to try to apprehend these people by every possible measure. This is a small step in that direction. It is modest but necessary and I fully support it.