State of Emergency – On This Day in 1976

August 25 1976THE Irish Government is to seek the approval of the Dáil and the Senate next week for the declaration of a state of emergency.Since the coalition government has a majority in both Houses, the passage of the measure is a foregone conclusion.The shock announcement that the Dáil and Senate would reconvene on Tuesday to consider a Bill to declare the first state of emergency in the Republic since World War II was made, last night, by the Minister for Justice, Mr Patrick Cooney.The suspension of all ordinary laws in the Republic for an indefinite period is seen as a move by the government to anticipate any upsurge of activity by the Provisional IRA as measures to combat subversive organisations are stepped up.Eight leading members of Provisional Sinn Féin were arrested in the Repu