The "Stakeknife" controversy cast its shadow over the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Lancaster House in London yesterday as the two governments sought to reassert the primacy of the political process in Northern Ireland, writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, expressed the Irish Government's "serious concerns" about the report of the Stevens inquiry into allegations of collusion between elements of the British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries, and about "the substance, context and timing" of recent revelations about the alleged IRA informer codenamed Stakeknife.
At a joint press conference with the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, the Minister said he was "not aware" of who was behind the recent allegations, but warned they were acting with "great irresponsibility" and voiced the suspicion that their purpose might be to destabilise the political process in Northern Ireland.
Mr Cowen said: "Those responsible for putting these allegations into the public domain have at the very least acted with great irresponsibility. We are also concerned about briefings apparently coming from anonymous sources which have the effect, and perhaps the intention, of destabilising the political process."
In answer to questions, Mr Cowen stopped short of demanding a public inquiry into the Stakeknife allegations.
However, he gave a reminder that the British and Irish governments are already committed, under the terms of the agreement concluded in the Weston Park negotiations in July 2001, to accept any recommendations arising from Mr Justice Cory's ongoing review of the circumstances surrounding six controversial murders, including that of solicitor Mr Pat Finucane.
Irish Government sources later emphasised this meant there was "existing provision" which could lead to a public inquiry into the allegations surrounding the Stakeknife affair, which underlined Dublin's view that this was not an issue which should delay the search for renewed momentum in the faltering political process in the North.
After more than three and a half hours of talks, Mr Cowen strongly repeated the Irish Government's view that elections to a new Northern Ireland Assembly should take place in the autumn.
Mr Murphy acknowledged that difficult issues affecting all sides could emerge after nearly 30 years of conflict.
However, he insisted that these would not stop the political process.