DAIL PASSES NEW SECURITY LAW
Dail passes tough new security law
By Michael O'Toole Dublin Correspondent
MEMBERS of the Dail yesterday put aside party differences to pass the toughest security legislation in the history of the state -despite opposition from Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party.
The draconian measures, introduced by the Republic's government after the Omagh massacre, are aimed at crushing republican dissidents.
The bill amending the Offences Against the State Act was passed without a vote by the Dail late last night after a 13-hour debate.
The measures will be debated by the Seanad, the upper house in the Oireachtas, at midday today.
The legislation is expected to be then passed into law when it is signed by the presidential council in Mary McAleese's absence tomorrow.
The legislation includes provisions in relation to membership of an unlawful organisation, the right to silence, the creation of new offences, increased powers of detention, unlimited fines and the forfeiture of property where that property is used for storage of firearms or explosives.
New offences include: directing an unlawful organisation, possessing items for purposes connected with specific firearms or explosives
offences, withholding information on offences, unlawfully collecting information, training persons in the making or use of firearms or explosives.
Although Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O'Caolain and his Socialist Party counterpart Joe Higgins both opposed the bill in the Dail there was no formal vote -10 TDs have to call for such a measure before one can be held.
After a minute's silence for the Omagh victims, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told TDs: The so-called Real IRA cannot hope to take on the people of Ireland and win."
He vowed that the organisation would be crushed and said they had a simple, stark choice: end their war or face the full consequences.
He said: "There is no community in Ireland that wishes to have them operating in their midst.
These people are about to learn a lesson that will teach them to respect the strength of Irish democracy."
Mr Ahern said: The measures that are being brought forward are intended to be targeted solely at those who would engage in continued violence.
They are time limited and will lapse once we can be sure that they are no longer necessary.
"We will monitor closely their implementation, with safeguards and checks and balances in the Good Friday agreement also coming into effect."
Fine Gael leader John Bruton said the refusal of the IRA to recognise the vote on the Good Friday agreement as an exercise in national determination gave the Real IRA an excuse to carry on violence.
He said the IRA statement earlier this week - which did not say decommissioning would take place - and Gerry Adams's landmark statement on Tuesday that violence must be over for good, was part of a "carefully nuanced republican strategy" to allow an each way bet on the Good Friday agreement.
By Michael O'Toole Dublin Correspondent
MEMBERS of the Dail yesterday put aside party differences to pass the toughest security legislation in the history of the state -despite opposition from Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party.
The draconian measures, introduced by the Republic's government after the Omagh massacre, are aimed at crushing republican dissidents.
The bill amending the Offences Against the State Act was passed without a vote by the Dail late last night after a 13-hour debate.
The measures will be debated by the Seanad, the upper house in the Oireachtas, at midday today.
The legislation is expected to be then passed into law when it is signed by the presidential council in Mary McAleese's absence tomorrow.
The legislation includes provisions in relation to membership of an unlawful organisation, the right to silence, the creation of new offences, increased powers of detention, unlimited fines and the forfeiture of property where that property is used for storage of firearms or explosives.
New offences include: directing an unlawful organisation, possessing items for purposes connected with specific firearms or explosives
offences, withholding information on offences, unlawfully collecting information, training persons in the making or use of firearms or explosives.
Although Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O'Caolain and his Socialist Party counterpart Joe Higgins both opposed the bill in the Dail there was no formal vote -10 TDs have to call for such a measure before one can be held.
After a minute's silence for the Omagh victims, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told TDs: The so-called Real IRA cannot hope to take on the people of Ireland and win."
He vowed that the organisation would be crushed and said they had a simple, stark choice: end their war or face the full consequences.
He said: "There is no community in Ireland that wishes to have them operating in their midst.
These people are about to learn a lesson that will teach them to respect the strength of Irish democracy."
Mr Ahern said: The measures that are being brought forward are intended to be targeted solely at those who would engage in continued violence.
They are time limited and will lapse once we can be sure that they are no longer necessary.
"We will monitor closely their implementation, with safeguards and checks and balances in the Good Friday agreement also coming into effect."
Fine Gael leader John Bruton said the refusal of the IRA to recognise the vote on the Good Friday agreement as an exercise in national determination gave the Real IRA an excuse to carry on violence.
He said the IRA statement earlier this week - which did not say decommissioning would take place - and Gerry Adams's landmark statement on Tuesday that violence must be over for good, was part of a "carefully nuanced republican strategy" to allow an each way bet on the Good Friday agreement.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0211
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.