There is concern in Northern Ireland political circles over the leaking of a Department of Foreign Affairs memo reporting on conversations between a departmental official and the Fianna Fail presidential candidate, Prof Mary McAleese.
The document quoted Prof McAleese as saying she was pleased with Sinn Fein's performance in the British general election. Prof McAleese has denied making the comments attributed to her.
Irish civil servants talk to a wide range of political opinion in the North on a confidential basis. There are fears that there may be further breaches of privacy which could compromise persons in public life and even be a source of physical danger to them.
Believing themselves to be protected by confidentiality, Northern politicians - including some unionists - have been prepared to express views which would not necessarily find favour with their rank-and-file. The prospect of such exchanges in the future has been jeopardised by the possibility that their contents could appear in the public domain.
There is concern that the person who leaked the McAleese memo may be in possession of other sensitive material.
Meanwhile, the British government is expected to go ahead with a watered-down version of a proposal to include Gaelic games and culture under the remit of the Parades Commission.
Besides marches, the Commission would be empowered to consider other, unspecified, expressions of cultural identity in public or semi-public places. But no action could be taken without a directive from the Northern Secretary. But there is continuing concern on the Irish Government side that such a provision could be used for the manufacture of artificial grievances motivated solely by sectarian spite.
Meanwhile, relations between the Northern Secretary and the Democratic Unionist Party appear to have improved, judging from comments made by DUP leaders after a 50-minute meeting with Dr Mowlam yesterday.
The previous meeting between the two sides reportedly ended on a somewhat acrimonious note. However, the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said yesterday he was "strangely surprised" by the "complete sea-change" in Dr Mowlam's attitude.
A DUP statement said: "The fact that the Secretary of State has now recognised our position on the talks and will no longer be calling on the DUP to enter the process at Castle Buildings is an admission that the process has flaws."
The statement said the fact that the British government was prepared to listen to the DUP outside the talks was a "boost" to the party's position.
Also yesterday, the Northern Secretary met the newly-appointed US ambassador to the UK, Mr Philip Lader, who was making an introductory visit to Northern Ireland.