Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have already seconded the motion. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, and appreciate very much the valuable work he has done in the past as co-chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, and the work he is doing in his current position. I thank the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for the contribution he made earlier in the debate. I acknowledge the work of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Villiers, MP. I am delighted that the status of the IRA and other paramilitaries is being assessed. I welcome the establishment of the three-person commission and the appointments of Lord Carlile, Ms Rosalie Flanagan and Mr. Stephen Shaw, QC. The Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, stated that the factual assessment should be in our hands in approximately one month's time. I very much welcome that progress.

Reference was made to the work in which the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly has been involved. Last February, that body was unanimous in respect of the establishment of a task force. I acknowledge the work of Senator Walsh on that matter; he was a member of the same group as myself. From what we found, the police North and South will never defeat these crime overlords. These are people who have been engaged in smuggling perhaps all their lives. If we leave this matter to the police, it will not be dealt with. I mean no disrespect whatsoever and co-operation North and South between the police forces has never been better. We believe that because the criminals are full-time professionals, a task force comprising the police, customs, Revenue, the Criminal Assets Bureau and its Northern equivalent and the environmental protection agencies - with all of these bodies working together on a full-time, professional basis - is required. I am encouraged in that regard by the briefing we received from the Department. In the context of cross-Border crime, there is already very strong North-South co-operation involving the police and other relevant agencies from the two jurisdictions. Ways to further enhance this excellent work will be examined. I hope that the task force will not be eliminated and that, perhaps, it may yet be brought into being.

While there are difficulties in north Louth - a matter to which Senator Moran referred - there are greater difficulties in south Armagh. There is no normal policing in south Armagh and there probably will not be for years. The level of policing is so light, I would say the police presence there is but a token. Officers are largely confined to barracks. The station in Crossmaglen is a fortress-like, bomb-proof building. Senator Walsh and I saw it and we could not find a door in the metal sheeting. Eventually, some fellow spotted us on camera and came out and brought us in. I mean no disrespect but policing standards, despite best efforts, are not normal there. Policing levels in south Armagh do not equate to those which obtain in the rest of the North. In a so-called democratic society, I do not think that is right.

I also thought it was very abnormal that the area is littered with these blue, unofficial, community alert notices. There is a number people can ring and it is not the police. I do not know who it is but the locals believe the notices are erected by the provisional IRA. They believe it still exists on the ground there. The people who are engaged in the criminality, we just refer to them as the crime overlords.