Dail renews post-Omagh law on terrorism for further 12 months

Tough anti-terrorist legislation, enacted after the Omagh bombing in 1998, was renewed yesterday in the Dáil for a further 12 months.

The "threat to life and to our democratic values" remained, said the Minister of State for Justice, Ms Mary Hanafin, who introduced a resolution for its retention.

"The sad reality is that those responsible for the Omagh bomb continue to pursue and plan a campaign of violence," she said. Fine Gael's Justice spokesman Mr Alan Shatter said the difficulties the Garda confronted were exacerbated by the "added dangers posed by international terrorist organisations which may, at some stage, use this State as a base to conduct terrorist activities that would impact, not only on this island but on the wider world".

Labour's deputy leader Mr Brendan Howlin said it was regrettable that only one person had been charged in this jurisdiction for the "unspeakable act" committed in Omagh.

Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist, Dublin West) said his party had always opposed the State taking on to itself "extremely repressive and far-reaching legislation".

He said there had been instances where the original legislation had been used for "trawling or intimidation purposes against those who were not members of paramilitary organisations".

The Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, included the withdrawal of the right to silence for persons accused of membership of an unlawful organisation. This section was used 22 times in the past year, resulting in two convictions and 20 pending charges. Detention was extended from 48 to 72 hours under the Act and was used in 39 cases, five of which led to charges. The Act also makes it an offence to collect, record or possess information likely to be useful to an unlawful organisation, under which two people were convicted.

All Offences Against the State legislation is currently under review and the Minister said it would make no sense to allow the provisions collapse before the committee reported. Ms Hanafin said the legislation "plays a major and crucial role in the fight against subversive activity, which we know is occurring. It is having an effect".