A clear and unequivocal message is required from all sections of the republican movement that the campaign of violence is over for good, the Democratic Left leader said. Mr Proinsias De Rossa also called on the Government to "exert far more pressure on the republican movement to show a spirit of compromise in regard to the decommissioning of weapons".
He welcomed the statement by the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, about violence being a thing of the past. "While it falls somewhat short of the unequivocal terms I would like to have seen, it certainly represents a step forward and marks the most significant rejection of violence yet expressed by any leader of the republican movement."
He expressed concern, however, at the contrast in tone and content between Mr Adams's comments and those of the IRA representative interviewed in An Phoblacht, the weekly republican newspaper. "A clear statement from the leadership of the IRA that they share the analysis and sentiments of Gerry Adams would be a real catalyst for political progress in Northern Ireland."
He said paramilitary organisations had been the principal beneficiaries so far of the Belfast Agreement, with early prison releases. "It is now payback time for the paramilitaries," he said. "Civilised society has been generous and has taken a great leap of faith in agreeing to these early releases."
He acknowledged the positive role played by Sinn Fein leaders in the run up to the agreement and that the IRA ceasefire had been solid with the exception of punishment attacks.
He said the republican movement, as a party to the Good Friday Agreement, "has a particular obligation to face up to its responsibilities after Omagh".
It was not known if the explosives and detonator used in Omagh were from the arsenal of the IRA, but it could be said with a fair degree of certainty that "the technical skill and expertise of those who carried out the bombing was almost certainly acquired within the Provisional IRA and from people who may well still be in leadership positions with that organisation".
"We must show our solidarity with the victims of Omagh in a concrete way by taking every possible step to dismantle the organisation responsible and to bring to justice those who had any hand, act or part in this deed. We must ensure by political and policing action that there will be no more Omaghs." He called on the Government to consider a substantial financial donation to aid the injured and the relatives of the dead and to assist in the rebuilding of the town centre.
It was clearly necessary for the Government to review the legislative and security procedures available to the State to fight terrorism.
However, it was undesirable and potentially dangerous that a package of "draconian" measures should be rushed through the Dail in 12 hours, less than two days after most deputies had seen the Bill. "The experience in the past has been that rushed legislation has turned out to be flawed legislation."
"It is important that extraordinary police powers which may be regarded as being necessary at a particular time to deal with a specific terrorist threat, are not allowed to become a permanent feature of our legal code."
Mr Trevor Sargent (Green, Dublin North) said it was ironic, given the dogma of the perpetrators of the bomb, that everyone in the community was united in their wish to live together and united in their determination to end violence and bring the perpetrators of the bomb to justice. He said the growing co-operation between different communities was reflected in the statements by the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon.
Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) criticised the proposed anti-terrorist legislation as "incredibly, ludicrously and dangerously wide-ranging in its effect".