Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2006

My Lords, I too am grateful to the Minister for the way in which she outlined the details of the order. I, in common with many in Northern Ireland, am uncomfortable about the continual fudging of the issue of decommissioning. I am in no doubt that the vast majority of my fellow country-people urgently want to see all illegal weapons out of circulation. There is an impression that Sinn Fein/IRA—or as it is known in parts of Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein/MI5—has been allowed to run part of the government agenda. Time and again many policy issues are supported only by Sinn Fein. Perceived issues include on-the-runs, reform of education, policing and the proposed new stadium at the Maze. The vital issue, which I have raised in your Lordships’ House before, is that of IRA criminal activity, or what is known as white-collar terrorism. To many there seems to have been a blind eye turned to those IRA members on both sides of the border who have become multi-millionaires as a result of illegal activity. I recognise and applaud the raids of last week on three major fuel-laundering plants in South Armagh. There are still nine in existence. Many of us are happy that the major plant at Cullyhanna owned by the Quinn brothers has now been closed down. But a question arises in all these issues over several years—no one is ever found on the site. Is that strange? Did the operators know about the raid before? The Government’s own figures indicate that fuel-laundering in South Armagh is on a massive scale. Therefore, large consignments of diesel and acid must come into the island of Ireland and into the area. The interesting question is why no one in customs and excise on either side of the border identifies these movements and acts on them. This leads many, including myself, to think that there could be several reasons: first, a deal has been done at a high level to turn a blind eye to this IRA activity; secondly, that there are IRA insiders in the customs service on both sides of the border; and, thirdly, that there is intimidation of customs officers; or, as I think, all three. Whatever it is, it must stop and all assets obtained by criminal activity must be seized. To me this is just as important as the decommissioning of weapons.