James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is very interesting to hear the Sinn Féin comments on the Special Criminal Court. I commend this motion and wish to put my support for it on the record of the House. I understand it is a tough task trying to deal with organised crime. My own city of Limerick has been plagued by criminal gangs for a long time. I would argue, however, that one of the biggest criminal gangs operating in this country is the Provisional IRA. It is raising large sums of money through fuel laundering, protection rackets and so forth and has absolutely destroyed communities in the Border area. It rules those communities through fear and intimidation. One only needs to look at the case of young Paul Quinn to see the savagery these animals inflict. The only way that any court could possibly deal with people like that is through the methods provided for in this legislation and for that reason I commend the motion.