Vol. 568 No. 5
223 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contacts with representatives of the United Kingdom Government concerning allegations of British intelligence collusion with Northern Ireland paramilitaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14728/03]
As I informed the Dáil recently, the allegations regarding the activities of the agent known as Stakeknife are a matter of deep concern. The Deputy will be aware that allegations about the role of agents and their handlers also featured strongly in the case of Pat Finucane.
The Government's conviction on the need for a public inquiry in the Pat Finucane case was strengthened by the findings of Stevens III that collusion did indeed exist between elements of the security services and loyalist paramilitaries.
Mr. Justice Peter Cory, formerly of the Supreme Court of Canada, was appointed by both Governments to investigation six cases of public concern. He has completed his work on the Finucane, Hamill and Wright cases and he expects to have finished the three remaining reports later this year. The two Governments have agreed that, in the event that a public inquiry is recommended in any case, the relevant Government will implement that recommendation.
I set out our concerns in detail to the Secretary of State when we met on 20 May last at the BIIGC in London. On that occasion also, I emphasised the importance of the community being assured that these issues can and will be dealt with in an appropriate and effective manner.
