Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Much more importantly, I would like to extend sympathy to the mayor and the people of Strasbourg and to the President of France on the tragic shooting carried out by terrorists in the city's beautiful Christmas market last night, during the sitting of the European Parliament. Of course the timing was a political statement. The attackers could not get through to the European Parliament because there is very heavy security there, as there is at the Council of Europe. I have been going to Strasbourg for ten years.

This brings home the dangers posed by terrorists. The Garda Síochána should always be on alert for radicals, some of whom live in Ireland. They can be as radical here as anywhere else. A member of my family was caught up in the shooting last night. Three people were killed and 13 injured. My family member escaped but he was within feet of the shooting. It brings home how close these issues are to everyone. We should all feel very grateful that we have not been caught up in these situations. It is almost Christmas, which is a Christian event. It is a beautiful event in Strasbourg. Three people died there and 13 were seriously injured. To all their close friends and family members I offer our sympathies on this terrible tragedy before Christmas. I hope that the terrorist, who is now on the run in France, is caught sooner than later because he will have a further shoot-out somewhere else.