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Dissident Republican Activity

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (927)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

927. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is concerned by the threat posed by criminal elements known commonly as dissident republicans; what is being done to protect citizens of the State and neighbouring states from such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35480/13]

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Written answers

I can assure the House that countering the paramilitary threat has always been a priority for the Garda Síochána and nothing has changed in that regard. The Garda will continue in their ongoing efforts to counteract these groups and their criminal activities.

The recent seizure by the Garda in Dublin of a significant cache of arms and explosives is testament to their ongoing efforts to disrupt the activities and the lethal intentions of these terrorists.

The Deputy will know, of course, that these so-called "dissident republicans" are none other than criminal terrorists who use lethal violence in pursuit of their own, often personal, ends. Let us be clear also that they are deeply and inextricably involved in serious crime in order to fund their activities and their own comfortable lifestyles.

The threat from terrorism is a matter of strong, shared concern North and South. There is also a shared, strong resolve to take all necessary actions within the law to bear down on the groups involved to ensure that they can be disrupted and brought to book.

The Garda co-operate seamlessly with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in actively bearing down on these groups. Operational policing co-operation is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI and both have repeatedly emphasised that the close and high quality co-operation between their forces has been instrumental in preventing attacks, combating criminality and, indeed, in saving lives.

I meet frequently and have ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, with regard to the security situation and the ongoing efforts to combat the threat from these gangs of criminal terrorists. There is also a close and ongoing working relationship between our officials. By working together on these matters of mutual concern and interest we can improve community safety for all the people on this island and vindicate their democratically expressed desire for a peaceful future.

The Government remains committed, in co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, to spare no effort to ensure that those criminal terrorists who seek to subvert the democratic will of the people of these islands will face the full rigours of the law.

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