Taoiseach denies secret meetings with Sinn Fein leaders

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern denied he had secret meetings recently with Sinn Féin representatives.

"As far as I am concerned, the meetings I have had are all on the record and are formal meetings. The fact press conferences are not held does not mean they are not formal meetings."

Mr Ahern was replying to the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said there had been newspaper reports of a number of so-called secret meetings.

Mr Ahern said he was not responsible for headline writers.

He added that a formal meeting in January had attracted much publicity, as did the meeting on March 16th.

"I had meetings prior, during and after the elections in the North attended only by Gerry Adams and me. There were by no means secret meetings. I would also have talked to senior members of the SDLP on the same basis."

Mr Ahern said the content of his discussions with Sinn Féin had very much focused on the clarity required to bring issues forward. "I am very clear that is [ the] only way we can make progress and get the institutions back up and running."

He said while he did not formally meet Dr Ian Paisley all the time, there were ongoing contacts with the DUP through officials.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte asked if Mr Ahern had raised the recent report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) with Mr Adams.

"I presume I can take it the Taoiseach accepts the report of the IMC which suggests the IRA is still training, recruiting, gathering intelligence, engaging in punishment attacks and so on."

Mr Ahern replied that he had said in the House "many times that despite all the difficulties I have made it absolutely clear that the Government would maintain dialogue with Sinn Féin".