The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will meet eight relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing today to discuss claims of alleged secret talks between the Government and the "Real IRA".
The allegation - said to centre on an agreement not to "harass" Real IRA members - claims the secret talks came shortly after the atrocity in August 1998 that killed 29 people.
. The allegation was made in a Channel 4 News programme in October.
The Taoiseach said the Government had "no contacts" with the organisation. Dr Martin Mansergh, now a Fianna Fáil senator, said he did not have meetings with the "Real IRA" in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Michael Gallagher, spokesman for the group of relatives, said eight representatives were travelling to Dublin for the meeting at the minister's department and had "very specific questions we are going to ask."Mr Gallagher said the group was also requesting information from a three-strong inquiry set up to investigate the bombing.
He said the group was angry at the time it had taken to set up today's meeting. "We've been asking for that meeting from as early as May," he said. "This is typical of how the victims have been treated. We are pretty annoyed it has taken so long".
PA