Labour wants Dáil told of pledges to Sinn Féin

The Government must publish and reveal to the Dáil all "side agreements" negotiated with Sinn Féin during the recent talks on…

The Government must publish and reveal to the Dáil all "side agreements" negotiated with Sinn Féin during the recent talks on the peace process, the Labour Party has said.

Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabbitte said the side deal - which includes commitments to release the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe, an amnesty for IRA members on the run and positions in the Seanad for Northern politicians - was hugely important.

"It appears that the government has not been totally honest with the Dail and the public about the full extent of agreements made with Sinn Fein and it is now essential that all such documentation be put into the public domain," he said.

Mr Rabbitte said it was also important to clarify, in the light of a number of statements from the Progressive Democrats, whether or not there was full Cabinet agreement on all aspects of the proposed deal outlined by the Taoiseach and the British prime minister Mr Tony Blair on Wednesday

READ MORE

"Given the fact that extensive documentation was published on Wednesday, it is difficult to understand why a number of agreements covering issues of such importance to the public as the proposed release of the killers of Det. Garda Jerry McCabe were withheld."

Mr Rabbitte said that in his statement on Wednesday he had specifically raised the issue of reported 'side deals' with Sinn Fein involving Garda McCabe's killers, so-called IRA 'on-the-runs' and the question of rights for elected representatives from Northern Ireland to attend the Houses of the Oireachtas.

"Again on the Order of Business on Thursday morning I asked the Tanaiste if these documents would be released prior to the proposed Dail debate next Wednesday, but she did not respond."

Mr Rabbitte said the tradition of bipartisanship in the Dail with regard to Northern Ireland was dependent on the Government keeping the opposition informed of developments. This had not happened on this occasion.

The Labour leader said he was puzzled by a number of statements made by PD representatives which appeared to be an attempt to distance the party from elements of the plans announced on Wednesday.

"One would have assumed that the Taoiseach would not have announced such proposals without having secured full cabinet approval and specifically the agreement of his partners in government. We now need to know if this is, in fact, the case."

Additional reporting: PA