THE "electoral terrorism" being practised by the IRA during the British general election campaign had to be strenuously condemned, the Government leader in the House, Mr Maurice Manning, said.
The IRA tactics represented the very antithesis of democracy, he believed. All members would condemn in the strongest possible terms the suffering, hardship, inconvenience and disruption to life "which our friends in the neighbouring island are being put to allegedly in the interest of this island".
Mr Manning was responding to Mr Sam McAughtry, (Ind), who called for the clearest official condemnation of the IRA's disruption tactics in Britain. Mr McAughtry said he trusted that no members of the Dail or Seanad would subscribe to the "benevolent theory" that because lives were not being lost, this was a tactic about which people in the South need not worry too much as it would leave this island untouched.
It should not be forgotten that this was a fascist tactic because it was direct assault on the edifice of democracy. The IRA had a background in this regard. In 1973, it had threatened to murder Catholics voting on whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom or join the Irish Republic.
Mr McAughtry urged the Minister for Foreign Affairs to voice the Government's utter outrage at the IRA tactics. Such an approach must be undertaken in advance of polling day in Britain, he stressed.