There has been a flurry of media reports in recent days about the activities and alleged activities of a senior British agent operating within the senior level of the IRA in Northern Ireland who may have been guilty of involvement in very serious crimes including murder and other atrocities. I appreciate that this is a difficult and murky area, but if there is any substance to these claims and allegations, it suggests that British intelligence sources were engaged in highly questionable activities in Northern Ireland and that the level of collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries is considerably greater than the Stevens inquiry has suggested.
The Taoiseach has indicated his intention to have the matter raised with the British Government next week by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In view of the fact that these allegations are of the most serious kind, that it is difficult to decipher what is going on, that the Taoiseach over the past six years has had at his disposal the level of intelligence available to the Army and the Garda together with briefings on Northern Ireland on a constant basis, some in respect of high level security and other matters, has it ever been brought to the attention of the Government that a situation like this might exist in view of the fact that members of the Sinn Féin army council would probably be known to the Government?
Given that both Governments are in daily contact about a range of issues, will the Taoiseach contact Prime Minister Blair by telephone to raise this matter at Heads of Government level in order that we might be able to gain some knowledge or factual evidence of what is going on here? Perhaps the Taoiseach might indicate whether the Government, during his tenure of office, has ever had any evidence or indication of evidence from intelligence sources that the person referred to as "Stakeknife" actually existed. I ask the Taoiseach to bring this matter directly to the attention of the Prime Minister by way of a telephone call this evening or tomorrow.