Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

As we are talking about the North there must be concerns in regard to the statements made by SDLP representatives this morning. As people who were involved in the peace process over many years – people like John Hume initiated much of this – they, particularly Mr. Gerry Adams and Mr. David Trimble, have been totally sidelined by the Taoiseach and Mr. Blair in discussions that have been evolving over a period of time. They made that point, not I.

The discussions held by Senator Mansergh will surprise many of the public. They were held after the Omagh bombing which struck a resonance with everybody round the country. People will be surprised they took place. The meetings were held in secret and it was only when the information went into the public domain that the Taoiseach responded, in the Dáil yesterday, that the meeting had taken place. That is the issue. The Taoiseach during a process of questioning over past years did not release that information in replies in the Dáil. It is regrettable that it took the public process to elicit the response of the Taoiseach.