An assessment that the IRA was still recruiting, training and gathering intelligence came from the Northern Ireland Office and not Dublin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told reporters yesterday.
He said the NIO assessment was quoted in the course of a document written by an official in his Department which accidentally came into the possession of the news media in advance of a meeting between Mr Cowen and the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, in Dublin on Wednesday.
Mr Cowen said it was "clear from the documentation" that the NIO was the source of the IRA assessment. He described it as "interesting" that it was not reported in the media as an NIO assessment. The Government's own position was that there was a commitment to the peace process by the republican movement. "There is a ceasefire in place," he added. But there was a need to "try and devise acts of completion", not just on the part of republicans but loyalists as well.
Asked if the document would create difficulties with the Ulster Unionists since it described them as "dysfunctional", Mr Cowen said: "It doesn't reflect the Government position. That is the important thing."
He read out a statement which said: "This is a breach of confidentiality which should not have occurred. I recognise and greatly regret the potential for complicating the already difficult situation in Northern Ireland which the two governments, with the pro-agreement parties, are seeking to address.
"It is important that the nature of such briefing papers is properly understood. When ministers attend significant meetings, their officials normally prepare a set of background papers containing information and advice. These advisory papers are prepared on the responsibility of the officials concerned. Policy positions and decision-making remain of course the prerogative and responsibility of the minister. In this instance, I did not draw on these particular papers in my participation in the meeting."
An "in-depth investigation" was under way. "Follow-up action, including further improvements in our security systems, will be decided in the near future," the statement concluded.
The Taoiseach yesterday supported Mr Cowen's portrayal of the document, saying that nothing in it was "the considered position" of the Minister. He said it had been prepared by civil servants and represented their assessment of the situation, not Government policy.
Denis Staunton in Brussels adds: The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, dismissed the suggestion in the leaked briefing paper that the IRA remained active. The IRA was on ceasefire. He had no information that it was recruiting and he had never advised anyone to that effect, he said.