The Sinn Féin Cavan/Monaghan TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, has refused to urge members of the public who may have information about the murder of gardaí by republicans or about illegal IRA arms dumps to come forward.
During an interview on RTÉ's Tonight with Vincent Browne last night, Mr Ó Caoláin said: "I am not going to urge people to take a particular position that challenges them individually, and, indeed, within their own communities."
The storage of IRA arms in the Republic had to be viewed in a historical context, Sinn Féin's sole representative in the Dáil said. He added: "I want to see a situation where all arms are removed. I believe that we should work together to eliminate the need for the storage of arms, the use of arms, the importation and transport of arms, and that we need to concentrate upon that - not on this continual navel-gazing in relation to whether one set of circumstances is more preferable than another."
Asked if the IRA was an illegitimate, illegal force which should go out of existence, the Cavan/Monaghan TD replied: "I would not describe those terms to the IRA in terms of the position that they have held since their inception. I recognise the circumstances that have given rise to the IRA." Later, he said: "I have understood and accepted the reasons why people have resorted to the use of physical force. It is the politics of the last resort. It is not my choice."
He described the criticism levelled at Sinn Féin by the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, and others as a "hysterical diatribe" which was increasingly being rejected "by a growing number of people".
Asked if he held allegiance to the Republic, Mr Ó Caoláin said that he swore fealty to the Republic declared "in Easter Week 1916". He wished to see the re-creation of the Republic which had been established by the First and Second Dáil: "I wish to see that reachieved."
