McDowell warns of international terrorist threat

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday that the country faced a significant threat from international extremists and evidence suggests that the country has already been used as a base for international terrorism.

The claim came a day after Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne told the Dáil justice committee that no such threat existed.

Publishing new laws to blacklist foreign terrorist organisations operating outside the state yesterday, Mr McDowell said the threat to Ireland was very real and there was a significant threat that the country would be used for international terrorism purposes.

The Criminal Justice Terrorist Offences Bill lists a range of offences in this country such as hostage taking and terrorist bombings. It also makes it an offence to assist or finance a terrorist organisation. The laws will come into effect in the New Year. Ireland had to be extra vigilant it does not become a base for foreign terrorist groups.

In fact, there is evidence to suggest that it had been used as a base without the knowledge of the authorities for some time now: “That is to be expected because we are a small, open, liberal state with laws which are by no means repressive and we have a regime here that does not keep tabs on everyone.

“We have had a code that is directed entirely against threats against the Irish state. What we have not had is a workable law that outlaws and proscribes and gives the gardai the powers to search and detain people they suspect of being involved in terrorism abroad.”

The minister said there are people planning major atrocities and the same powers have to be deployed against international terrorists as there had been against internal threats. Under the legislation, the State will have power to treat organisations such as al-Qaida in the same way as paramilitaries are currently treated and, in certain cases, it will allow for the prosecution of terrorism offences which happen outside the country.