Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

On behalf of the Green Party I join in the tributes paid to John Hume. He may have paid the price of peace in terms of his own health as well as the politics of his party.

Regarding the Taoiseach's comments about the insights of Northern representatives on this side of the Border, which are laudable, and which will hopefully come to pass in due course, does he regard it as important to engage the total political capital on this island that is pro-Agreement, in this House as well north of the Border? Does he agree it is necessary to find some role for Opposition parties in the Dáil in the review of the Belfast Agreement? Would he envisage bilaterals or round-table discussions being of benefit, or would he at least agree that more can be done than is being done at present?

What is the position of the Taoiseach and the Government regarding the British Government's thinking that a new election should be called in Northern Ireland, perhaps next June? Has the Taoiseach outlined the Government's position, and have any discussions taken place on this matter with the British Government?

Will the Taoiseach join me in calling on the British Government and the Northern Ireland Secretary of State to confirm or deny claims contained in Nicholas Davies' book, Dead Men Talking, that an alleged high level IRA spy — the Taoiseach may know of whom I am speaking — met former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the mid-1980s, and enjoyed access to high level Government intelligence committees? Does the Taoiseach share the Green Party's grave concerns about the implications of high level collusion between British intelligence and Provisional IRA command structures? Has he had an opportunity to raise this matter with the British Government?

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