Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Was the Taoiseach surprised at the security briefings from the Garda Síochána and the Army as to the estimated strength of IRA personnel at the moment? Newspaper reports indicate a strength of 1,500, around 20% of regular Army numbers here. Does the Taoiseach have evidence about how many are in the Republic compared with Northern Ireland? Was he surprised at the statement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or the numbers estimated to be active personnel in the IRA? Does the Taoiseach believe the evidence from the International Monitoring Commission that the IRA is regrouping, actively purchasing arms and training personnel in military style operations?

After the breakdown in talks, the McCartney murder and the Northern Bank raid, the Taoiseach had an acrimonious meeting with the president of Sinn Féin in Dublin. He sent away Sinn Féin with a flea in its ear to talk to the IRA and to come back to the Irish Government with a clear statement of the IRA's intentions. The Taoiseach is entitled to keep dialogue between parties open but there are newspaper reports that the Taoiseach has had meetings with the president of Sinn Féin on his own, in secret, and that no one knows what was discussed at these meetings. Can the Taoiseach confirm there were no side deals made about on-the-run prisoners or people in Colombia? What where these meetings about? Why were they necessary in the first place if the Taoiseach had made clear his position and that of the Government that the onus and responsibility rests clearly with the IRA to make up its mind about what it wants to do? In future, as Mitchell Reiss said to me in Washington, there will be no more constructive ambiguity and words will mean what they are supposed to mean and everyone will know what is intended. Everyone here wants an end to paramilitary and criminal activity once and for all. Can the Taoiseach explain what went on at these meetings and why were they necessary?

Does the Taoiseach believe this situation will continue to drag until assembly elections take place again for the political reasons of various groups? Will the assembly be up and running before elections are again called?

Has the Taoiseach had any security briefings on the disappeared and where their remains might be located, still a source of great sensitivity to those involved?

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