Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I discussed those issues at the meeting I had on 9 December, not at the summit. As the Deputy will recall, the Prime Minister had very little information and was not able to cast much light on what was happening. Subsequently, with my ministerial colleagues, I discussed this matter with PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, discussed it with some of his ministerial colleagues. We received an explanation that gave us some light. As I said earlier in the year, it is best to move these issues on. As it was explained to me it would neither damage nor enhance my relationship with anybody, so we just move on. Satisfactory answers on who was watching who were never given. The more it is explained the more it appears it was a complicated web in which everybody watched everybody. It will not affect our relationship.

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