Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not consider that I had any secret meetings. I am not responsible for headline writers. The content of that article was absolutely correct where I said I had a number of meetings. However, I had no secret meetings. As far as I am concerned, the meetings I have had are all on the record and are formal meetings. The fact press conferences are not held does not mean they are not formal meetings. I have such meetings with several leaders in Northern Ireland when they are here perhaps on other business. Nine times out of ten I meet them but we would not highlight the meetings. However, they are certainly not secret meetings.

The formal meeting in January attracted much publicity as did the meeting on 16 March. I had meetings prior, during and after the elections in the North attended only by Gerry Adams and me. They were by no means secret meetings. I would also have talked to senior members of the SDLP on the same basis.

The content of all my discussions with Sinn Féin has very much focused on the clarity we require if we are to bring issues forward. I am very clear that is the only way we can make progress and get the institutions back up and running. My primary concern in the coming months is to get the institutions back up and running.

While I do not formally meet Dr. Paisley all the time, we have ongoing contacts with the DUP through officials. At all times, we are very clear about what we are trying to achieve. All my efforts on both sides have been to try to reach a position whereby we get a certain set of circumstances with which we can run, otherwise the type of stalemate and dilemma about which Deputy Finian McGrath talked will persist. The response we await from the IRA and the type of issues that did not allow us to complete matters last December are very clear and clearly understood. It will be of little benefit having anything other than that to bring matters forward. I will discuss these issues again tomorrow with all the senior people in the DUP. My position is quite clear. I know what I hope to get in response. Whether we get that response, we will have to wait for the outcome of the IRA engagement. Equally, if we get such a response, we will have to tease out where we will go with the DUP. They are the two crucial elements for the next period.

I want to mention the secondary issues in particular because we are at the beginning of the difficult phase of the marching season. We can get confused as to when the marching season starts. It was months ago but we face the difficult phase of it this weekend beginning on Friday night. I emphasise the importance of all political leaders working to assist everybody to avoid some of the difficult issues around the marching season this year in particular. We need people's help and support on that. There are quite difficult issues facing us this weekend.

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