Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Ba mhaith liom a rá go dtuigimid ar fad an cúlra atá leis an reachtaíocht áirithe seo. Is trua é go gcaithimid athnuachan a dhéanamh air gach bliain. Ní dóigh linn go bhfuil gá leis. Is dóigh linn gur cheart breathnú arís air.

We all know the background of the Offence Against the State Act. Senators need to consider the disruptive effect of this legislation on human rights, civil liberties and on democratic life in the State. We are living in a new political reality and the Government has an onus to live up to its obligations under the Good Friday Agreement to remove obstacles that hinder the normalisation of security. In this context the scrapping of the Offences against the State Act is a must. The provisions up for renewal and indeed the Act in its entirety have no place in a modern democracy and have nothing to contribute to the future of peace on the island.

The apparent apathy of other Opposition Members on this issue and the ill-advised enthusiasm of others for specific aspects of the Act have obvious negative implications for all of society. The Minister referred to upholding and implementing in full the Good Friday Agreement because it is the democratic wish of the people. This means, therefore, that there is an onus on us to bring about as quickly as possible the normalisation of policing and justice on the island. In this context the Government has obligations under the Good Friday Agreement to work towards the normalisation of security in the Twenty-six Counties and the Six Counties. Sinn Féin believes the legislation is counter-productive in the long run. The retention of these provisions is an admission of the failure of this and previous Government. The challenge for us is to prove we have a normal society and that normal policing will convict those who seek to undermine it. Draconian legislation can never be a substitute for sound law and good accountable policing. The continuation of the Act erodes the human rights ethos in which the State's legislation should be grounded. We are a normal society and our existing laws are strong enough if properly resourced.

Is dóigh linn go bhfuil an reachtaíocht seo ag dul thar fóir. Dá mbeadh an córas póilíneachta ag obair mar is ceart, agus na hacmhainní cearta ag na póilíní, bheidís in ann déileáil leis na contúirtí atá luaite ag mo chomh-Sheanadóirí.