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27/01/2003
Trimble calls on Ahern to clear up spy claims
The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has called on the Irish government to make a formal response to a newspaper report concerning an alleged attempt by republicans to spy on senior government members in the Republic.
Mr Trimble called on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to declare there had been no cover-up of an alleged IRA spying operation in the south.
The UUP leader said it was "potentially a very significant development" and the position needed to be clarified before his party decided whether or not to take part in roundtable talks which are due to resume on Thursday.
Mr Trimble further accused republicans of continuing to behave in their “bad old ways” and said Unionists needed to know that such conduct was at an end.
He also insisted that the main business of unblocking suspension of the power-sharing administration involved Downing Street securing a major move on weapons from the IRA.
He said there was such a ring of truth about yesterday’s Sunday Independent story that clarification was essential.
Fianna Fail’s general secretary Martin Mackin said that the party was taking the allegations "very seriously".
"The notion that TD’s are being staked out, being followed around and that documents have been compiled for whatever reason is rather sinister," he said.
"It's normal to scrutinise statements, positions taken, policies and policy documents, but it's not normal to wander down the highways, by-ways and alleyways keeping a beady eye on their movements - that is not normal.
"There has to be ground-rules for the practise of democratic politics, no matter what the jurisdiction or the party is, this breaches those ground-rules as far as I am concerned."
Mr Mackin said that the allegations were now a matter for the Gardaí and any investigation has to take its course.
"I'll be interested to know what is the detail of this information that was being gathered and for what purpose,” he added.
The Irish government said no statement as yet was available on the issue.
(AMcE)
Mr Trimble called on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to declare there had been no cover-up of an alleged IRA spying operation in the south.
The UUP leader said it was "potentially a very significant development" and the position needed to be clarified before his party decided whether or not to take part in roundtable talks which are due to resume on Thursday.
Mr Trimble further accused republicans of continuing to behave in their “bad old ways” and said Unionists needed to know that such conduct was at an end.
He also insisted that the main business of unblocking suspension of the power-sharing administration involved Downing Street securing a major move on weapons from the IRA.
He said there was such a ring of truth about yesterday’s Sunday Independent story that clarification was essential.
Fianna Fail’s general secretary Martin Mackin said that the party was taking the allegations "very seriously".
"The notion that TD’s are being staked out, being followed around and that documents have been compiled for whatever reason is rather sinister," he said.
"It's normal to scrutinise statements, positions taken, policies and policy documents, but it's not normal to wander down the highways, by-ways and alleyways keeping a beady eye on their movements - that is not normal.
"There has to be ground-rules for the practise of democratic politics, no matter what the jurisdiction or the party is, this breaches those ground-rules as far as I am concerned."
Mr Mackin said that the allegations were now a matter for the Gardaí and any investigation has to take its course.
"I'll be interested to know what is the detail of this information that was being gathered and for what purpose,” he added.
The Irish government said no statement as yet was available on the issue.
(AMcE)
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