Jim O'Keeffe
Question:3 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will condemn the provisional IRA and their political supporters for their campaign of murder and violence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Condemnation of IRA.
I condemn all those who engage in violence, be they IRA or other paramilitary groupings. Their actions bring only death and misery, are destructive of economic and social progress, and are repugnant to the overwhelming majority of the people living on this island. Quite apart from the lack of moral or political justification for the campaign of violence of the IRA, their actions deepen the divisions between the two communities in Northern Ireland and between both parts of Ireland in a manner which makes a mockery of their declared objectives. Those who support these organisations or condone the campaign of violence must accept their share of the responsibility for the appalling consequences of violence.
Would the Minister accept it is important that the Government and the Dáil make it absolutely clear that there is no vestige of support for those who engage in murder and violence on this island or for those who either encourage or condone that murder and violence? Furthermore, would the Minister agree that it would be very useful that an all-party message be sent from the Dáil to the godfathers of violence demanding that they lay off violence and not to dare to continue the pretence and sham that such violence is carried out in the name of the Irish nation?
I do not think there is any question that the majority of Irish people reject that the IRA act in their name. On the question of placing the Government's views on record, I have just done so. I have condemned the acts of violence of this outfit and that is as much as I can do in the circumstances. I cannot use the language of rhetoric and make my message meaningless. In regard to the question of a message being sent from all parties in the Dáil, it is commonly held that this Dáil condemn unreservedly the work of the IRA.
The Minister is no doubt aware that the upcoming general election in the United Kingdom will involve the constitutencies in Northern Ireland. Will the Minister make it clear that those who have a vote in that election should demand that candidates renounce violence before they vote for them?
Is the Deputy referring to another jurisdiction? Is he referring to the upcoming elections in the United Kingdom?
I am referring very bluntly to the candidacy of Gerry Adams in Belfast West and I am saying bluntly to him and to the people there that nobody should vote for him unless he renounces and condemns violence. It should be made clear in the Dáil that this is what we expect.
Joe Hendron of the SDLP will be standing for nationalist politics.
Constitutional politics.
Constitutional and nationalist politics and, as such, I would imagine that all right-thinking people would be supporting him.
I agree.
I agree with the Deputy that the message should go out strongly that Mr. Adams, who supports the campaign of violence, should not be supported on that account.
I thank the Minister. We are of the one mind and the one word.