Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It would be most inappropriate, improper and premature for the Taoiseach to raise such an issue when so many other serious issues remain unresolved, such as criminality, racketeering, paramilitary punishment beatings, the Northern Bank raid, and the murders of Robert McCartney and Joseph Rafferty.

I am glad that the Taoiseach met the Rafferty family in Dublin. That story and witnessing those known to have been involved strutting around makes a mockery of this democracy and our system of justice. If the Sinn Féin Party can do anything to assist and bring about a conclusion in either the McCartney or the Rafferty case, it has an onus, duty and responsibility to do so.

I spoke to the McCartney sisters at the "People of the Year" awards, and they said publicly that they are still being intimidated in Belfast. That situation is intolerable, and if any party or its members in this jurisdiction were involved in such activity, they would be hauled over the coals constantly about it. I know that Deputy Ó Caoláin is here as the leader of the Sinn Féin group in the House. Perhaps he might like to provide some more light or information regarding a serious matter for the families involved. If we are talking about the real road to peace, democracy, truth, honesty, harmony and the building of communities, such problems must be dealt with and ended.

I noted yesterday that the Sinn Féin president had said that he would continue to campaign for the release of republican prisoners. I was appalled to think that the Government had done a secret deal before the negotiations two years ago for the release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. I note the comments made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, yesterday that they would serve their full sentence as handed down by the courts. I would like to hear the Minister reiterate when he replies that there can be no easing up. There is still confusion regarding those persons deemed on the run from that incident. What is their position?

It is necessary, with respect to the Taoiseach's exalted political position, to distinguish between the person and the office. I do not think it appropriate that as Taoiseach he should have secret meetings in a constituency office with representatives of Sinn Féin or any other party in whose regard it could be alleged that secret deals might be done. Whether that is true remains to be seen in some cases. From any perspective, the Taoiseach's dealings as Head of Government with Sinn Féin or any other group should be done in an absolutely proper manner so that no issues can emerge later.

The Taoiseach said in the House that if the deal had gone through, the killers would have been released. I was intrigued by the comments of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, that the Government had cut off contact with Sinn Féin following the Northern Bank raid and the murder of Robert McCartney. That assertion is untrue, since throughout the period when the Government was playing hardball with Sinn Féin, having sent it away with a flea in its ear, several meetings were held with Gerry Adams at which no Minister or official was present.

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