Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Byrne's comments and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, for what is vital legislation to protect the lives of our citizens. I am delighted, as we all are, with the advances made in the peace process in Northern Ireland. Many thousands of people are alive today because of the efforts of all parties, including Sinn Féin and its leadership, to bring people together. Unfortunately, there are many dissidents who seek to undermine that process and derail all of the good work that has been done. I suggest respectfully to everybody that it is just work in progress in that we have a long way to go.

This legislation is necessary to protect our citizens and respect their human rights. People have a right to move freely in a democratic country knowing that the institutions and the apparatus of the State will protect them.

The advice from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality, through the Minister, is that this legislation is necessary. Like everybody else I will be delighted when we can stand down this legislation but if the advice of the security forces is that there is just one life in danger were it to be discontinued, we have a responsibility to ensure it remains in force.

People who are going about on a daily basis minding their own business and not interfering with anybody would have no issue with this legislation. Along with Senator Byrne I hope that all parliamentarians will see this legislation as being on the best advice of the security forces North and South and that we would view it as an insurance policy to protect the people of Ireland and, ultimately, the peace process. We have responsibilities, and as parliamentarians we must take those responsibilities. I urge the House to vote in favour of this very important measure.