FG reaction: Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday demanded a meeting with the Taoiseach during which he said he would seek to find out whether any "secret or side deals" had been done between the Government and Sinn Féin in recent months.
"In particular, I will be demanding answers as to whether the issues of Oireachtas speaking rights for Northern MPs, the repatriation of the so-called Colombia Three and the status of those still being sought by gardaí for the murder of Jerry McCabe were discussed."
He had expressed deep concern recently about Mr Ahern's holding "a series of secret, private meetings with Gerry Adams without the presence of other Ministers or officials.
"I specifically warned the Taoiseach of the danger of Mr Adams subsequently claiming that he had done side deals with the Taoiseach, as happened previously in relation to the early release of those already convicted of the brutal murder of Jerry McCabe.
"The Taoiseach assured me that these secret meetings dealt solely with the promised IRA statement, and that 'there was no question of secret or side deals being discussed' . It now appears that, within a week of the IRA statement my fears have been borne out by events.
"Firstly, Gerry Adams is publicly claiming that he has a clear commitment from the Taoiseach that Sinn Féin's Northern MPs will be given the right to speak in the Oireachtas, and Michael McDowell has confirmed that this issue was indeed part of the negotiations.
"Secondly, the three men convicted of serious terrorist offences in Colombia have suddenly reappeared in this country despite having been convicted of travelling on forged Irish passports, and we have yet to see any substantive response from the Government.
"Thirdly, it has been conceded by Dermot Ahern that the status of the killers of Jerry McCabe was also raised by Sinn Féin in these meetings despite the fact that the convicted men themselves announced some months ago that they were no longer seeking early release."
He said Fine Gael would not agree to Sinn Féin's demand for Oireachtas speaking rights for its Northern MPs. "As the party which established the democratic institutions of this State, people can be assured that we will not allow them to be undermined in any way. I am fundamentally opposed to the suggestion that representatives elected to parliaments in other jurisdictions could be given the same parliamentary rights as those duly elected to our Dáil and Seanad.
"In making this outrageous demand, Sinn Féin conveniently fails to acknowledge that the Sinn Féin Dáil deputies already have speaking rights commensurate with their democratic mandate at the last Dáil election."