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DATE=8/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237332
TITLE=IRISH GOVT (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE IRISH GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED ON TOUGH NEW LAWS TO 
TIGHTEN SECURITY AND COMBAT EXTREMIST OPERATIONS FOLLOWING THE 
CAR BOMB LAST SATURDAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT CLAIMED AT LEAST 
28 LIVES.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON
TEXT:  IRISH PRIME MINISTER BERTIE AHERN SAYS THE TOUGH 
ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO CONVICT SUSPECTS OF 
OUTLAWED GROUPS AND DETAIN THEM LONGER FOR INTERROGATIONS. 
                       ///  AHERN ACT  ///
         THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR 
         POWER, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, TO 
         DEFEAT AND SUPPRESS THIS MURDEROUS CONSPIRACY AGAINST 
         THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
THE NEW MEASURES INCLUDE TIGHTER SECURITY CONTROLS ALONG THE 
IRISH REPUBLIC'S BORDER WITH NORTHERN IRELAND AND PUNISHMENT FOR 
ANYONE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.  
PROPERTY USED FOR TERRORIST OPERATIONS COULD BE CONFISCATED.
MR. AHERN SAYS THE PARLIAMENT WILL BE RECALLED IN TWO WEEKS TO 
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE DRAFT LAWS. 
THE PRIME MINISTER DESCRIBES THE NEW RULES AS DRACONIAN BUT 
INSISTS THEY ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS.
                     ///  AHERN ACT TWO  ///
         THE GOVERNMENT DOES  NOT  UNDERTAKE THESE MEASURES 
         LIGHTLY.  WE FULLY RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A 
         DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.  WE BELIEVE HOWEVER THAT WE HAVE 
         A CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO 
         DEFEND THE AGREEMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF BOTH PARTS OF 
         THIS ISLAND FROM ATTACKS BY GROUPS WHO HAVE  NO  
         LEGITIMACY WHATSOEVER.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN GROUP KNOWN AS THE 
REAL I-R-A ANNOUNCED IT IS SUSPENDING ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
THAT WORD CAME ONLY HOURS AFTER THE GROUP TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE OMAGH CAR BOMB BUT SAID IT HAD  NOT  INTENDED TO TARGET 
CIVILIANS.  OFFICIALS SAY THE GROUP'S STATEMENT IS TOO LITTLE, 
TOO LATE.
THE BOMB BLAST IN OMAGH, WHICH CLAIMED AT LEAST 28 LIVES, WAS THE
DEADLIEST SINGLE TERRORIST ATTACK IN THREE DECADES OF SECTARIAN 
VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
19-Aug-98 12:51 PM EDT (1651 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.