OPPOSITION FULLY BEHIND NEW SECURITY MEASURES
Opposition fully behind new security measures
by Liam O'Neill
SOLID backing for the Government's tough new anti-terrorist measures was quickly forthcoming from the Dail opposition parties - Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left.
Welcoming the security measures, Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, said that the new offences of directing an unlawful organisation and the unlawful collecting of information would be crucially important if convictions were to be achieved.
"Terrorism is always directed by information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice", he said.
Mr Bruton condemned the REAL IRA as "common criminals, addicted to the process of violence, and psychopaths in the social meaning of that term." Advocacy of their cause, was as socially unacceptable as advocacy of, or sympathy for infanticide, racism or torture, he said.
The Fine Gael leader also spoke out against internment, saying that it was effective only if introduced for a very clear purpose, without notice and with very accurate security information.
Labour Party spokesman, Pat Upton described the proposals as reasonable in the context of the threat posed to life and limb and to the future of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Upton said he shared the Government's view that the Omagh bombing was intended as a direct attack on the Agreement and on the principles of democracy itself.
"No small group of individuals can be permitted to hold themselves out as self-appointed arbiters of the future of our country. We shall support the Government in doing everything in its power to defeat and suppress this fanatical band of murderers," said Mr Upton.
Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, on behalf of Democratic Left, said that a State had particular obligation to act when its territory might be used to launch murderous attacks on citizens in a neighbouring jurisdiction. The package of measures announced by the Government would definitely strengthen the hands of the gardai in fighting terrorism but they would have to await the publication of the detailed legislation before it could be fully assessed, he said.
Mr Gilmore said it was very important that extraordinary police powers which might be introduced at a particular time, were not allowed to become a permanent feature of our legal code.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
by Liam O'Neill
SOLID backing for the Government's tough new anti-terrorist measures was quickly forthcoming from the Dail opposition parties - Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left.
Welcoming the security measures, Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, said that the new offences of directing an unlawful organisation and the unlawful collecting of information would be crucially important if convictions were to be achieved.
"Terrorism is always directed by information collected by other people and these should be brought to justice", he said.
Mr Bruton condemned the REAL IRA as "common criminals, addicted to the process of violence, and psychopaths in the social meaning of that term." Advocacy of their cause, was as socially unacceptable as advocacy of, or sympathy for infanticide, racism or torture, he said.
The Fine Gael leader also spoke out against internment, saying that it was effective only if introduced for a very clear purpose, without notice and with very accurate security information.
Labour Party spokesman, Pat Upton described the proposals as reasonable in the context of the threat posed to life and limb and to the future of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Upton said he shared the Government's view that the Omagh bombing was intended as a direct attack on the Agreement and on the principles of democracy itself.
"No small group of individuals can be permitted to hold themselves out as self-appointed arbiters of the future of our country. We shall support the Government in doing everything in its power to defeat and suppress this fanatical band of murderers," said Mr Upton.
Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, on behalf of Democratic Left, said that a State had particular obligation to act when its territory might be used to launch murderous attacks on citizens in a neighbouring jurisdiction. The package of measures announced by the Government would definitely strengthen the hands of the gardai in fighting terrorism but they would have to await the publication of the detailed legislation before it could be fully assessed, he said.
Mr Gilmore said it was very important that extraordinary police powers which might be introduced at a particular time, were not allowed to become a permanent feature of our legal code.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/114
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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