Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I take her observations and those of An Garda Síochána on the need to continue the Special Criminal Court in its current form very seriously. This court is there to protect Ireland and its citizens from organised terrorism from criminal gangs and dissident republicans. Unfortunately, until such time as these issues are dealt with and these groups are no longer a threat, the Special Criminal Court will be necessary. This is my eleventh year standing up supporting this legislation. There can be no room for political equivocation when it comes to supporting the Special Criminal Court. It is there for a reason. It is there because it must be there. Nobody likes the fact that it is there but we have a duty and a responsibility to protect the citizens of this country. Dissident republicans have not gone away. We all know that. Organised crime gangs in this city have not gone away. We know that. Domestic terrorism has not gone away and there is an increased risk from international terrorism. We need the Special Criminal Court to ensure people serving on juries are not intimidated. Unfortunately, that is the reality. I am calling on all parties in this House to nail their colours to the mast and support the Special Criminal Court, which is an important institution in this country's legal system.