Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In regard to Deputy Rabbitte's question on Judge Cory's reports, we would welcome the publication at the earliest opportunity of Judge Cory's reports in the cases of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright. I expressed the view strongly to Prime Minister Blair that they should be published as a matter of urgency and that the delay in publication is having a detrimental effect on public confidence.

Deputies will be aware that we have published the two reports relevant to this jurisdiction and that a public inquiry will be held into the Breen and Buchanan case. It is not a source of tension between the two Governments, as some have sought to suggest, but it is something that needs to be dealt with urgently and we believe the British Government should deal with it urgently. It is important that the Governments stand by the commitments we made at Weston Park.

On Deputy Sargent's question about the matter of intelligence and the contacts at various levels, I cannot either confirm or deny these reports but obviously there is contact, and the security forces over the years clearly had contact at different levels. That was inevitable in a period when the level of conflict in Northern Ireland was so high.

On the question of the Dáil's involvement, as has been mentioned here, I know that all parties are in touch and have regular meetings with the parties when they visit. When anything important arises I normally arrange to brief party leaders and I continue to do that. The parties are caught up in two full days of the review and there are other meetings and connections taking place on the other days. At this stage it is just a matter of keeping in touch and when we get towards the end of that, if there is a need to change tactics or procedures, we can do that.

On Deputy Higgins's question about sectarianism, obviously sectarianism continues to be a major problem. There is polarisation and difficulties remain within areas of people being driven from their homes. There is no doubt about that. That continued to happen even last year when things were quieter. We should support the efforts of people like the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the civic forum and other groups which have worked hard to assist this process because there are many people across the divide who are endeavouring to improve relationships.

A major part of this — I discussed this with the loyalists — is a research group. It applies to Catholic areas but also to loyalist areas. The difficulties in some of these communities is lack of resources for basic facilities. We have raised many times with the Northern Ireland Office, both with the Secretary of State and other Ministers, that resources need to be put in to try to rectify the difficulties and hardships experienced in these communities.

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