There has been a flurry of media reports in recent days about the activities and alleged activities of a senior British agent operating within the senior level of the IRA in Northern Ireland who may have been guilty of involvement in very serious crimes including murder and other atrocities. I appreciate that this is a difficult and murky area, but if there is any substance to these claims and allegations, it suggests that British intelligence sources were engaged in highly questionable activities in Northern Ireland and that the level of collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries is considerably greater than the Stevens inquiry has suggested.

The Taoiseach has indicated his intention to have the matter raised with the British Government next week by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In view of the fact that these allegations are of the most serious kind, that it is difficult to decipher what is going on, that the Taoiseach over the past six years has had at his disposal the level of intelligence available to the Army and the Garda together with briefings on Northern Ireland on a constant basis, some in respect of high level security and other matters, has it ever been brought to the attention of the Government that a situation like this might exist in view of the fact that members of the Sinn Féin army council would probably be known to the Government?

Given that both Governments are in daily contact about a range of issues, will the Taoiseach contact Prime Minister Blair by telephone to raise this matter at Heads of Government level in order that we might be able to gain some knowledge or factual evidence of what is going on here? Perhaps the Taoiseach might indicate whether the Government, during his tenure of office, has ever had any evidence or indication of evidence from intelligence sources that the person referred to as "Stakeknife" actually existed. I ask the Taoiseach to bring this matter directly to the attention of the Prime Minister by way of a telephone call this evening or tomorrow.

In reply to Deputy Kenny, I would say everybody is concerned about this matter. It is a situation on which we have very little factual information. We must be careful about these allegations because there are serious implications in them encompassing threats to life, the memory of loved ones and people's reputations. All allegations of collusion sharpen memories for families who have lost loved ones. In recent days, I have had many questions raised by families on this issue relating to incidents dating back a number of years.

We have not had evidence in recent years about the matters concerned but, as Deputy Kenny knows from having questioned me on cases that were the subject of examination by Mr. Justice Barron, there have been many cases concerning such matters. I have no specific evidence about the individual called Stakeknife other than the confusion that exists today. I am almost afraid to say it but there appear to be two individuals with similar titles. I have no particular evidence about this.

We have consistently raised with the British Government the question of collusion and the actions of agents. The issue of British military intelligence operations in our jurisdiction is a serious allegation which I have also raised in the context of matters in the past. We will obviously pursue any evidence that this happened. We did so directly in the context of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and that was the major case we followed up. We raised the latest case yesterday through the British-Irish secretariat and we will follow that up. I am not too certain that the British political system would have any more information. It is normally helpful in these matters, but we raised it yesterday and will pursue it in coming days to see if we can obtain information. At this stage it appears to be an issue of the British Army and military intelligence.

The allegations are disturbing, add to a long list of accusations about the operation of the intelligence services in Northern Ireland and, in the view of the Government, raise fundamental questions about accountability and the rule of law. They also give rise to concerns about a number of murder cases, the list of which is already long and to which this allegation adds.

This and previous Governments have succeeded in getting to the position where we have the Saville inquiry and the Cory inquiry which deals with a number of murder cases and which will report in the autumn. Some of Judge Cory's investigations have concluded and he has stated that he will give the report to both Governments together as required under his terms of reference. If there is any new evidence, I will deal with that.

I reiterate that, in so far as this side of the House is concerned, we will always support Government activity in terms of implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and the Taoiseach knows that. He did not say whether he was ever informed as Taoiseach of evidence or facts as to whether this person, Stakeknife, actually existed and acted for British security intelligence within the realm of the IRA.

When the Taoiseach raises this with the British Prime Minister, will he do so in the context of the lack of co-operation from British security intelligence referred to in the Stevens report and by Mr. Justice Barron who has cited on numerous occasions the lack of co-operation from British authorities in respect of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the 29th anniversary of which is next Saturday? Given that these are serious matters as the Taoiseach said, will he raise these murky allegations at the highest level? If it is deemed appropriate, will the Government seek the extradition of the said person in respect of a number of serious charges on this side of the Border if the Garda and the Director of Public Prosecutions recommend it?

I have never heard anything about this individual or any of the issues. I have heard many allegations about the activities of MI5, MI6 and others but I know nothing about them. Any such allegations would have related to the past, mainly the 1970s and mainly but not exclusively the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. There is the Séamus Ludlow case and others about which there have always been strong suspicions in the community and which are subject to examination by Mr. Justice Barron who it is hoped will report shortly.

I know that many of the allegations that have arisen in recent years centre on the force research unit. I am aware from allegations surrounding Brian Nelson and arising from the work of the British Irish Rights Watch and the Stevens investigation that this unit has been implicated in the murder of Pat Finucane. I am aware of that but, needless to say, I cannot support it. However, I do not want to say that I am not aware of what has been said about that unit. That unit again surfaces in all this. In any of my discussions with the British Prime Minister I have never been able to nor, if I were talking to him today, would I be able to obtain information about the force research unit.