On 15 August 1998 one of the worst atrocities in Irish history occurred in Omagh, when 31 innocent people were bombed and murdered by the Real IRA. On 5 November last year, in replying to questions in the House, the Taoiseach stated clearly that there was no contact between any member of the Government and the Real IRA and that there had been no initiative for contact brought about by his then special adviser, Dr. Martin Mansergh, who is now a Senator.

This is contradicted by a claim in a book to be published which states that a meeting took place between the Taoiseach's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Dr. Mansergh, and the alleged leader of the Real IRA and alleged perpetrator of the Omagh bombing, Mr. Michael McKevitt.

What concerns me is not the integrity of Dr. Mansergh, the Taoiseach or Fr. Alex Reid regarding the matters they were dealing with in relation to Northern Ireland. What concerns me is that the Taoiseach, in answering questions here as head of Government, chose not to confirm to the House whether or not a meeting took place between his special adviser, presumably with his imprimatur, and the leader of the Real IRA. I do not want to get into the business of saying, in the words of a newspaper article, that the Taoiseach lied to the House or that he misled the House. I would like the Taoiseach to have the opportunity to set the record straight, if it needs to be set straight, and to let us know whether or not a meeting took place between his special adviser and the leader of the Real IRA; if it did take place, whether it was with his imprimatur; and why, in essence, the Taoiseach did not see fit to inform the House of that fact when he answered questions on 5 November last.

I thank Deputy Kenny for the way he has framed this and the opportunity he has given me to deal with this matter.

I made clear in a Dáil statement of 5 November last, and also in a more extensive statement that I distributed the same day on this issue, that my special adviser at the time, Dr. Mansergh, did have contact with the 32 County Sovereignty Movement in 1998 some weeks before the Omagh atrocity with a view to persuading the Real IRA to cease their activities after the overwhelming ratification of the Good Friday Agreement by the people of Ireland. I also said that following the Omagh atrocity, Fr. Alex Reid was in discussions with that organisation with a view to bringing about the ceasefire on its part, which was eventually announced in early September 1998. I said that in this period Fr. Reid maintained contact with Dr. Mansergh on the issue.

Following the announcement of the ceasefire in September 1998, the Government strongly communicated the message that the Real IRA should not only maintain its ceasefire but should disband and cease to exist by the end of the year. That message would also have been communicated and reinforced directly by Dr. Mansergh in a follow-up meeting during Christmas week in 1998 at the request of the movement in response to his earlier contact at a time when the Real IRA ceasefire had been in existence for three months. Regrettably, the Real IRA did not heed this message and subsequently resumed its activities. It should also be made clear, as Deputy Kenny said, that everything Dr. Mansergh and Fr. Reid did during this period was designed to bring about a Real IRA ceasefire and a definitive end to its activities.

I accept Deputy Kenny's comment that the position is not clear from the record. I did not say that Dr. Mansergh met Mr. McKevitt during Christmas 1998. Deputy Kenny has obviously read the record. I am sure he will accept that I was talking at that stage about a deal that was meant to have been done prior to the ceasefire in which Dr. Mansergh and Fr. Reid were involved. I did mention the other events, but I accept that I did not go into all of the activities.

I want to repeat what I said in the Dáil last November. I said no deal was done by the Government either directly or indirectly with the Real IRA in return for a ceasefire or in the context of seeking its disbandment at the end of 1998. At all times it would have been made clear, as it was in my public statement in response to the ceasefire, that the law would take its course regarding the atrocities for which the Real IRA was responsible, and the sustained and successful action of the authorities here against the Real IRA provides ample evidence of that. I confirm that while I was talking at that time last year about what happened in the events leading up to the ceasefire in September 1998, I referred to some of the activities, but I accept that I did not refer to this one.

Dr. Mansergh put a report of that meeting into the records of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of the Taoiseach. In no way was Dr. Mansergh acting in a secret way. I accept it would have been better if I had mentioned that at the time, but I do so now. I reiterate that it was done with my imprimatur and the reason it was done during Christmas week was that at that stage the organisation had been on ceasefire for three months. We felt it was worth trying to convince it not only to stay on ceasefire, which was not an issue at that time, but to disband.

I am glad the Taoiseach has taken the opportunity to clarify the information he gave to the Dáil on 5 November last. This is one of the central issues to which he referred in Killarney last weekend when he spoke about commitment, responsibility and leadership. I am not impugning the integrity of Dr. Mansergh, but I would have thought this would have been relevant information because it sends out a signal to the families of the victims of the worst bombing atrocity in Irish history, that at a time when they were pursuing their course of justice, without any great help from either Government, the special adviser to the Taoiseach on Northern Ireland, had a face to face meeting with the alleged leader of the Real IRA and the alleged perpetrator of this bombing.

With respect to the Taoiseach and his office, it seems that the lack of information and clarity from some of the replies given by him as head of Government diminishes the authority of his office. Deputy Rabbitte has been pursuing questions on an another matter. We get a formula of words which lead to a public perception that the full truth is not being told. I would like the Taoiseach to repeat that his special adviser at the time, Dr. Mansergh, met with Mr. McKevitt and that he regrets not putting that on the record. I hope this will set a new standard for full and comprehensive answers and truth in line with the standards set last weekend for commitment, responsibility and leadership.

I do not want to take any great issue with this. I could give interesting insights if I wanted about special advisers meeting people on ceasefires and not on ceasefires, but that is not my form in dealing with Northern Ireland. I do not think we or Deputy Kenny should go down that road.

Is that a threat?

Perhaps the Taoiseach should ask the Leader of the Seanad, Senator O'Rourke, about 1996 and 1997.

Deputy Kenny asked me about two particular issues last year. One issue concerned whether a deal had been done prior to the Real IRA going on ceasefire. The question, in response to which I gave a full answer, was raised over a two week period. I was also asked about issues relating to cars and vehicles in response to which I also gave a full statement. I also circulated a comprehensive statement. I did not read out the full statement in the House because I had only two minutes to reply, but that statement is also in the public domain.

I accept that I did not go into the period of the ceasefire. At that stage, I was dealing with one set of issues. It would have been better if I had addressed the matter, but there was no question of trying to cover up the official note, which was on the records of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. As I stated at the end of that note – I think I also said this in the House – lest there be any confusion, there is contact between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform about prisoners and other matters with the Real IRA, and that continues on prisoners' issues, although not with my advisers.

There is ongoing contact with other groups, both loyalist and republican. That contact started in 1998 and has continued through the lifetime of successive Governments.