Will the Taoiseach clear up the confusion which exists in respect of the meetings that took place between Father Alex Reid and the Real IRA? As the House and the country will be well aware, the Real IRA was responsible for 31 murders in the Omagh bombing, one of the worst atrocities in the past 30 years. Last week-end the Taoiseach indicated there was no contact between the Government and the Real IRA. He subsequently clarified in a long statement that there was contact between Father Alex Reid and his then special adviser on Northern Ireland, Senator Martin Mansergh, during the course of those meetings. The Sunday Business Post alleged there were three meetings between Father Reid and the Real IRA and that during the course of these meetings advice was given by Senator Mansergh to Father Reid. Will the Taoiseach clear up, once and for all, whether he is aware there were three meetings between Father Reid and the Real IRA? Second, was the advice of Senator Mansergh to Father Reid given with the consent and knowledge of the Taoiseach? In view of its importance, this matter needs to be cleared up fully and comprehensively.

In replying to Deputy Kenny I wish to go back over some of the points I made last week, which are important. Following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998 and ratification of the Agreement by the people on 22 May 1998, a great deal of effort was put in by many people, including my then adviser, Senator Martin Mansergh, Father Alex Reid and other individuals whom there is no need to name, including clergymen on both sides of the divide. They tried to influence those still engaged in violence to desist and move away from it. That approach continued for quite some time. There was some success in that the INLA and through it those associated with the IRSP called a ceasefire. The ceasefire did not take effect until after the Omagh bombing but the decision had been made in this regard.

I do not know how many meetings Father Alex Reid had with the Real IRA but I know he was very active in trying to convince that and other groups. At that time, before Omagh, my adviser had met the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, the political movement, and I know that Father Reid, even after Omagh, had been contacted by the representatives of that group and asked to do his utmost to create the conditions under which these people could be involved in a ceasefire. Clearly, Omagh changed everything. The organisation was then responsible for the biggest atrocity ever, as Deputy Kenny said. After that, contacts were continued by some but not by the Government. The effort did not succeed. The organisation had a ceasefire, during which I know efforts did continue on the part of religious leaders, but that did not work either. After about six months it returned to violence and it never really stopped. It recently issued a statement, but we will have to wait and see whether it is valid.

After the Good Friday Agreement and its ratification by the people, and prior to Omagh, Father Reid definitely did have contact with these people and he was also in touch with my adviser. I cannot say, and neither can my former adviser to whom I have spoken, whether it was during the meeting phase or at any other time. He continues to keep in frequent touch today, as he has since 1988. Anything that was done in all this time was absolutely above board and helpful to the peace process. The work of Father Reid, although he has not been active recently because of his health, has always been extremely helpful. I will always defend his actions.

I do not doubt the validity of the work of Father Reid at all. I did receive some confidential correspondence from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, for which I am grateful, in respect of the other matters I raised here last week. What I am really interested in is the contact between Senator Mansergh, then the special adviser on Northern Ireland to the Taoiseach, and Father Reid. Was the advice from Senator Mansergh to Father Reid given with the knowledge and consent of the Taoiseach? In other words, did Senator Mansergh contact the Taoiseach, tell him he was talking to Father Reid, who was in contact with the Real IRA, and ask for his consent or imprimatur? Was there direct contact between the Taoiseach and Senator Mansergh? Did the Taoiseach know the subject of Father Reid's discussions with the Real IRA?

On that narrow point, the answer is clearly "No." In fairness to Senator Mansergh, it was not only I who did not know. He did not know either, but he was always in communication with Father Reid, and many others who will remain nameless as they are not in the public domain, giving them advice. It was definitely not the case that Father Reid was with the Real IRA, communicating with Senator Mansergh, who then communicated with me.