SEANAD REPORT: Concerns about threats to building workers involved in the erection of a commemorative fountain in Dún Laoghaire were expressed by Dr Martin Mansergh (FF).
According to newspaper reports, he said, the threats had led to the halting of the work. He was certain that nobody with authority in the republican movement would have authorised such threats.
Describing himself as "a believer in the Republic, one and indivisible", Dr Mansergh said he wanted the Minister for Justice to ensure that the rule of law was upheld. Anyone with influence with people uttering anonymous threats should take steps to have them repudiated. This kind of behaviour was completely out of keeping with the sort of reaching out that people such as the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Alex Maskey (SF), was doing.
"I do think in a context where observers are going from the Oireachtas to observe the rule of law in Colombia, we should make sure the rule of law is observed here," added Dr Mansergh.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said he was glad that Dr Mansergh had put out feelers which had led to the indication that the mainstream republican movement had nothing to do with the menaces that had been made "but it's a very serious matter when the lives of workers are threatened. I hope it is a hoax."
Ms Mary O'Rourke, Government leader in the House, said it was a worthy thing to try to re- erect this monument and she hoped it would be done.
The Minister of State for Environment and Local Government, Mr Noel Ahern, said he was sure the Minister for Finance would consider any good ideas on amendments to the Government's special savings scheme if there was cross-party consensus.
Mr Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the House, had earlier pressed for a change in the Special Savings Incentive Account (SSIA) scheme to enable account-holders to opt out without having to pay the 23 per cent tax penalty.
Mr Hayes said the over-generous nature of the scheme, devised when the economy had been in overdrive, could potentially provide the conditions of near bankruptcy for our economy in 2007.
Even a 10 per cent reduction in the overall cost of the scheme would free tens of millions of euros for more worthwhile projects.
Mr Ahern said if a change of the kind proposed was made there might be a mass exodus from the scheme. People who had already withdrawn money and paid the 23 per cent tax penalty might feel aggrieved that others who failed to meet the same conditions would be treated preferentially.