I wish to comment on recent public disclosures of events in the North involving the security forces. We have seen part of the Stevens report which shows evidence of collusion between members of the security forces and paramilitaries. The recent reports in regard to an agent called Stakeknife raise fundamental issues regarding the role of the state in the maintenance of law. Some would regard this as better left unsaid, a view to which I do not subscribe. We are at a sensitive stage in the peace process but if we build that process on sand, its sustainability into the future would be in greater danger than it might otherwise be.