Vol. 521 No. 3
69 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will communicate directly with Sinn Féin the contents of his reply to Question No. 39 of 16 February 2000 to demonstrate to it directly that the Government deplores all attempts to intimidate individuals or groups as they go about their daily business; and that it deplores punishment beatings and punishment shootings, in particular. [11469/00]
As I have said before, punishment beatings and shootings and acts of intimidation are utterly unacceptable and have no place in democratic society. This has been communicated to all parties to the Good Friday Agreement, including Sinn Féin. I also believe that there is a particular responsibility on those parties who may have influence with paramilitary organisations to help to bring punishment beatings to an end. I welcome the comments on 14 May by Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, who repeated that Sinn Féin is opposed to punishment beatings and shootings.
