DUBLIN POISED TO BACK TERROR CRACKDOWN
Dublin poised to back terror crackdown
Dail debate
THE toughest anti-terrorism crackdown in the history of the Eire state was last night set for overwhelming Dublin parliamentary approval after brushing aside token resistance.
All government and opposition parties lined up behind what Prime Minister Bertie Ahern called "a tough and draconian" response to the Omagh bomb outrage.
The Dial was poised to endorse the Ahern legal and security package late tonight after more than 12 hours of debate that went on in-tandem with similar developments in the House of Commons.
In Dublin Mr Ahern delivered a no-holds-barred message to the Real IRA breakaway terrorists, still dithering over an anticipated statement declaring that their ceasefire, announced within hours after claiming responsibility for the Omagh outrage, would be permanent.
The premier bluntly told them: "You cannot hope to take on the people of Ireland and win."
He said the Real IRA had disgraced themselves and no community in Ireland wished to have them in their midst.
The Dial expected all remaining active paramilitaries to halt their campaigns of violence or "face the consequences".
Mr. Ahern's stance secured widespread support from the main opposition groups in the Dail, although his predecessor as prime minister, Fine Gael party leader John Bruton, asked why the security steps had not been taken earlier and launched a strong attack on the attitude of the on-ceasefire IRA.
But the only direct resistance came from the Dail's lone Sinn Fein representative, Caoimhghin O Caolain, and independent Socialist Party member Joe Higgins.
Mr O Caolain warned: "A return to a failed repressive agenda would run completely contrary to the Good Friday agreement (on Northern Ireland).
Mr Higgins pointed to the potential threat to civil liberties posed by the severe set of proposals.
After securing the anticipated Dail second and committee stages acceptance, the measures will today be debated in the Senate, the upper house of the Eire parliament.
After that the bill goes to the office of President Mary McAleese to be signed into law.
Because Ms McAleese is currently out of Eire - on a state visit to Australia - that process will be undertaken by a presidential commission, made up of Chief Justice Liam Hamilton and the speakers of the Dail and Senate, Seamus Pattison and Brian Mullooly.
Key sections of the Dublin blueprint - generally regarded as even more stringent than the broadly look alike set of proposals being considered simultaneously by the House of Commons - were:
Easier courtroom convictions in illegal organisation membership cases;
The granting of rights to courts to make inferences on the silence of accused suspects;
New offences including directing an illegal organisation, the unlawful collection of information and training people in making or using firearms;
Increased periods for the detention of terrorist suspects:
The stepped-up use of a witness protection programme;
Forfeit of lands and property found to have been used by terrorists or for terrorist purposes.
Dail debate
THE toughest anti-terrorism crackdown in the history of the Eire state was last night set for overwhelming Dublin parliamentary approval after brushing aside token resistance.
All government and opposition parties lined up behind what Prime Minister Bertie Ahern called "a tough and draconian" response to the Omagh bomb outrage.
The Dial was poised to endorse the Ahern legal and security package late tonight after more than 12 hours of debate that went on in-tandem with similar developments in the House of Commons.
In Dublin Mr Ahern delivered a no-holds-barred message to the Real IRA breakaway terrorists, still dithering over an anticipated statement declaring that their ceasefire, announced within hours after claiming responsibility for the Omagh outrage, would be permanent.
The premier bluntly told them: "You cannot hope to take on the people of Ireland and win."
He said the Real IRA had disgraced themselves and no community in Ireland wished to have them in their midst.
The Dial expected all remaining active paramilitaries to halt their campaigns of violence or "face the consequences".
Mr. Ahern's stance secured widespread support from the main opposition groups in the Dail, although his predecessor as prime minister, Fine Gael party leader John Bruton, asked why the security steps had not been taken earlier and launched a strong attack on the attitude of the on-ceasefire IRA.
But the only direct resistance came from the Dail's lone Sinn Fein representative, Caoimhghin O Caolain, and independent Socialist Party member Joe Higgins.
Mr O Caolain warned: "A return to a failed repressive agenda would run completely contrary to the Good Friday agreement (on Northern Ireland).
Mr Higgins pointed to the potential threat to civil liberties posed by the severe set of proposals.
After securing the anticipated Dail second and committee stages acceptance, the measures will today be debated in the Senate, the upper house of the Eire parliament.
After that the bill goes to the office of President Mary McAleese to be signed into law.
Because Ms McAleese is currently out of Eire - on a state visit to Australia - that process will be undertaken by a presidential commission, made up of Chief Justice Liam Hamilton and the speakers of the Dail and Senate, Seamus Pattison and Brian Mullooly.
Key sections of the Dublin blueprint - generally regarded as even more stringent than the broadly look alike set of proposals being considered simultaneously by the House of Commons - were:
Easier courtroom convictions in illegal organisation membership cases;
The granting of rights to courts to make inferences on the silence of accused suspects;
New offences including directing an illegal organisation, the unlawful collection of information and training people in making or using firearms;
Increased periods for the detention of terrorist suspects:
The stepped-up use of a witness protection programme;
Forfeit of lands and property found to have been used by terrorists or for terrorist purposes.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/126
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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